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PROCEEDINGIS 



NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION, 



HELD AT WASHINGTON, D. C, 



FEBRUARY 15, 16, AND 17, 1872. 



WASHINGTON: 
GOVERNMENT PKINTINa OFFICE. 

1872. 



i3p CoNGEESS, ^ SEKxiTE. f I\ris. Doc. 

2d Session. ] . f No. 1G4. 



PEOCEEDINGS 



NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION, 



HELD AT WASHINGTON, D. C, 



a^' 



FEBROARY 


lo, 16, AND 17, 1872. 




,,r^^ 



WASHINGTON: 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 

1872. 






IX TilK SeXAT£ of the UNITED STATES, 

A]}nl 22, 1872. 

llcsohcd, Tlut the proceedings of the conventiou of dclojrates from agricultnral col- 
leges, State agrieulturul societies, &c., lield iu the city of Washington on the tift<3eutb, 
sixteenth, and seventeenth of Februaiy, eighteen hundred and seventy-two, and com- 
municated to the Senate by the Coiumitfsioner of Agrieultaro, be printed, and that four 
thoasand additional cornea be printed, of which one thousand iivo hundred shall be for 
the use of the Senate, an^ two thousand five hundred shall be for the use of the Com- 
missioner of AgTicultui'e. 

Attest: 

GEO. C. GOEHAM, Sccrefarij. 



Ix THE Senate Oi-' the United State;;, 

May 10, 18;x'. 

The following i-esolution, originating iu the Senate April 22, 1872, was concurred iu 
by the House of Ecpreseutatives May 10, 1872 : 

Besolvcd % <^'e Seuaie, {ihe House of Fu'ivescntatives concurrmg,) That there bo printed 
twenty-one thousand additional copies of tho report of the proceedings of the coji- 
veutiou of delegates from agricultural colleges. State ngricnltural societies, «S:c., held 
iu tho city of Washington on tho fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth of Febru- 
ary, eighteen hundred and seveuty-two, and communicated to" the Senate by the Com- 
missioner of Agriculture, of which five huudi'ed copies ahaU be for the use of the Senate, 
six tliousand for the use of the House, and fourteen thousand five hundred copies for 
the use of the Commissioner of Agriculture, of which one hundred copi;;8 shall be sup- 
plied t«o each delegate to tho conveution. 

Attest: . 

GEO. G^ GOKilAM, Ikcrcidr;/. 



FRc^CEEniNO-S 



NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL GONVEITIOI. 



THUESDAY— FIKST DAY. 

fui'suaut to the folio wiug call tlie Natioual AgTicjidtural Conventioa 
uiet at the city of Washiugtou on the 15th of February, 1872: 

THE CALL. 
I)EPART3«ENT OF AGRICULTURE, 

Washington, D. (7., Deceniber 20, 1871. 

yui: By the act of the ild 'of July, 1SC2, Congress donated to the 
several States a portion of public lands, in the ratio of their population, 
for the purpose of establishiug agricultural colleges, thereby evincing 
a purpose to promote that great interest through the instrumentality' of 
the respective States. ]Many colleges have been, and doubtless many 
more will be, established. State agricultural and horticultural societies 
and boards of agriculture have also been established by law in many 
States. A correspondence and consultation between friends of these 
interests have led to the conclusion that a convention of delegates rep- 
resenting them, for the x>urpose of conferring uj^on subjects of mutual 
interests, would promote the good of all. It has been suggested that I 
take the responsibility o'i initiating such a meeting. I therefore propose 
that each agricultural college, State agricultural society. State horticn' 
tural society, and State board of agriculture, depute two delegates to mec 
in convention, at the city of Washington, on Thursday, the lOth of Fe! 
ruary next, to take such action regarding the interests of agTicTiltur 
;is the\' ushall deem expedient. 
r a)n, \-ery respectfully, 

FEEDEBIOK WATTS, 

Comniissioner. 

(/oinmissiouer Watts called the convention to order at 10 o'clock, and 
il<l({r(^ssed it as follows: 

ADDRESS OF C01\OriSSI0NER VfATTS. 

it gives me great pleasure and eucouragemeut to see so many iudivid- 
iials collected here lor the i^urpose of advancing the interests of agricul- 
ture in this country. It is absolutely necessary that we should come 
together to confer upon this subject. 

As early as 1802 the Cougi-ess of the. United States gave evidence of 



4 NATIONAL AGRICTJLTUSAL CONVENTION. 

its determined purpose to aid the cause of agiicultiu-e and to promote 
its interests; and in furtherance of that object they made a very large 
appropriation of the public lands. Ten million acres, about, were ap- 
propriated to the States severally, with the injunction that they should 
establish one or more agricultural colleges. Those lauds have been 
actually appropriated by this act of Congress of 1862. We received it 
not only as a donation to the cause of agriculture, but we received it 
more especially as an earnest from Congress itself of its disposition to 
encourage this subject, and to promote it in all its interests in the United 
States. It is not sui-prisiug at all that it should do so, because it is a 
pursuit in which one-half of the inhabitants of the United States are 
actually engaged, and the other half actually dependent upon the results 
of their labor. I say it is not surprising that the CongTess of the United 
States should have taken this deep interest in the promotion of that 
object. 

Like all other subjects, that of agriculture requires co-operation. The 
nature of the business of the agriculturist is such as to separate him 
from the rest of mankind; he is segregated from the mass of society; 
he has not the opportunities afforded him to consult with his neighbors 
and friends ou those things which are likely to promote his interests. 
He is unlike the professional man — unlike the merchant and mariner — 
for the same opportunities are not afforded him for consultation and ar- 
rangement of designs by which his interests may be promoted. 

When I en me to the position which I now occupy here, the first idea 
that occurred to me was that we were a head separated from a body. 
The people of the country in their aggregate capacity, in the shape of 
agricultural societies and colleges and horticultural societies, were the 
great body of agriculture, and this Department a separate head. I felt 
the want at once to be able to put my hand upon the man or set of men 
upon whom I could repose that confidence which was absolutely neces- 
sary. The difficulty occurred at once, we do not know the agriculturists; 
we do not know each other; there is no co-operation between us at all. 

Kow, gentlemen, you have been* brought together here mainly for the 
purpose, almost exclusively, for creating this system of co-operation be- 
tween this head of agriculture and your body. We hope very much from 
the mere consultation upon this subject which, we may have, a subject 
of leading interest to the country. 

I am obliged to say to you that in the assembling of this convention 
great difficulties occurred. I felt great apprehension that offense might 
be given by the selection of individuals to represent these great agricul- 
tural interests which have so ramified the land, so extensive, covering 
so much ground that they extend over the entire coimtry. All, no 
doubt, would feel willing and glad to take a part in this convention. 
Well, the question arose, who were to be invited to meet here ? It is 
very well known to any individual who has had any experienoe in the 
ways of the world that if we got two, three, four, or five hundred people 
here no business could be done; it would be made u]) of speaking and 
discusKions which would be profitless in the end, and that the result to 
be attained would not be attained at all, because of the number present. 
It was then, gentlemen, because we wanted a consultation upon this 
subject as a matter of business, that we selected the agricultural col- 
leges. State agricultural societies, and State boards of agriculture and 
the State horticultural societies. There was nothing invidious in this; 
nothing was intended to make an impression that they had any superior 
claims to consideration as delegates here than any other of the many 
societies that exist of an agxicultural character in the United States, but 



NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION. 5 

merely for the purpose of keeping tlie number vritliiii tlioso boundaries 
wliieli would make it a business convention and -would make it useful 
for the pui-poses for vrhich it was intended. 

Without regard to the call, which was very specific and must have 
beeu understood, many of the vStates of the Union elected delegates 
far beyond the number to which they were entitled. I suppose there 
are some of the States that would have had delegates here to the num- 
ber of one hundred if there had been no objections, some of them thirty 
or forty at least. 

'Now, gentlemen, it is with the kindliest feelings that this selection 
has been made, for the purpose of doing the greatest amount of busi- 
ness and producing the very best results. "^Vhile we know that there 
are a great number of delegates here who do not represent those socie- 
ties, we will be most happy to have those gentlemen come into the 
convention and be interested in the convention. I know that the con- 
vention will evince cordial feeling upon this subject. And while we 
must from necessity, as a. matter of business — while the committee on 
credentials will be obliged, upon the invitation laid down, to contract 
the number, yet we hope those men will come in here and give us their 
confidence and assistance in the convention. 

I will now ask you to appoint a, chairman ^ro tempore. 

Dr. LOEESTG. I move that the Commissioner of Agriculture act as 
chairman ^ro femiwre. 

The motion was seconded. 

Dr. LoRrNG. I think it would be important, as I propose to call for 
the correspondence that has been held between the Commissioner and 
the delegates ; and I think, with him in the chair, that matter will be 
managed as nobody else can manage it. 

Commissioner Yv^ATTS. It would be entirely inconsistent with the 
jjrogramme that I should occupy this chair. That has been a subject 
of consideration with me, and under the circumstances it would be 
entirely inconsistent. 

Senator Morrill. Let me name Dr. Loring as president ^)ro tem'pore. 

The motion was seconded. 

Commissioner Watts. I beg leave to name Professor Bowman of the 
University of Kentucky as chairman. 

How will the convention determine this question % 

Dr. LOEING. I will relieve the convention by most respectfully de- 
clining. 

Senator Morrill. Well, then, I will -svithdriw my nomination if it is 
desired. 

Commissioner Watts. Professor -Bowman is ucimed as chairman. 

Kegeut BoY/iMAN. I beg leave to decline most heartily, but concur in 
the nomination of Dr. Loring, of Massachusetts. 

Commissioner Watts. The only nomination before the convention is 
that of Mr. Bowman. 

Mr. Bowman was unanimously chosen chairmtan pro tempore. » 

The Chalrjiajv. Gentlemen of the convention : I thank you most cor- 
dially for the very unexpected courtesy. I should much prefer that 
the honorable and distinguished Commissione^r of Agriculture should 
have at least organized the convention. I shall simply desire to co-oper- 
ate with you to that extent, and without any pzeliminary remarks I will 
state that the convention is now ready to proceed to business, and the 
reception of any motions looking to the permanent organization of this 
bodv will be entertained. 



n NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL COrV^ENTlON. 

Commissioner Watts. The first matter is the appointment of a com- 
mittee to examine the credentials of the delegates. 

Mr. TH03IPSON. I move, sir, that the chah-man of this con\^entioii 
appoint two committees, one upon credentials and permanent organiza- 
tion, and tbc other upon business and the order of business, each com- 
mittee to consist of one delcia^ate ii-om each State and Teiritory here 
represented. 

A ME3IBEK. I move that a secretary be appointed. 

The motion was seconded. 

The Chairman. I shall be under obligation to the Commissioner if he 
will name a gentleman. 

Eev. Mr. Caider, of Pennsylvania, is named as secretary. 

He .was elected. « 

Br. LoEiNG. I now. move that the Commissioner lay before this con- 
vention the correspondence which has been held between the Depart- 
ment and the societies represented here before fhe committee on creden- 
tials is appointed. 

A Member. It does seem to me that a (committee should be appointed. 
I want to know who are invited here. 

Mr. Thompson. I withdraw my motion temi)orarily. 

The Chairman. The secretary will read the call. 

The secretary then read the call, w^hich is printed above. 

Dr. LoRiNG. Pnow desire a list of the societies and colleges to which 
that circular was addressed. 

The CnAiRiiiAN. I will suggest, for the convenience of the secretaries 
and rei^orters, that as each gentleman rises he will please announce his 
name. I will remark to the convention that I have been furnished by 
the Commissioner with a list of all the agricultural colleges of the 
country, and it is accessible to the members of the convention. 

Commissioner Watts. If the gentleman who made the motion will 
allow me to read thi^, probably it will cover what he wants. [List of 
"industrial institutions."] 

Dr. LoRiNG. I hf^ve that. 

A ]\Iember. It is suggested to me — I am a stranger to nearly all of you 
— that there ought to be two committees appointed, to fix the hour of 
meeting and length of the sessions. 

;Mr. Thompson. I renew the motion which I made, that two commit- 
tees be appointed, one upon "permanent organization and credentials, 
and the other upon the order of business, to be appointed by the chair- 
man, consisting of one from each State and Territory represented here. 

Dr. LoRiNG. I do U'Ot seem to get at my information. I grant that I 
have a. list here of industrial institutions,' but I insist upon it that the 
business which I brought u^) is still before the "conventior!, A call was 
made for a list of the (societies which had been addressed by the Commis- 
sioner. Each society called by the Commissioner should be known, 
where it is, and who represented it. In response to my call I have had 
put into my hands the following: '-Industrial institutions in the United 
States ■ which have ro»?eived the national endowment of land scrip." 
There is not a State society in this country which has received laud 
scrip, ^^he agricultural colleges have. Now, I am very anxious to 
know liow fHv the practical farmers of the United States have responded 
to this call, and I want lo know what State societies are represented 
here, hnd were cabled la^i^e by the Commissioner — I think a very proper 
point' to make before th,is convention is organized; and I trust the 
Commissioner ^n]l also give ns a list of the State agricultural societies, 
representiug tbe pract'fcal farmers that are invited to this convention, 



NATIONAL AGRIClTLTtJRAL CONVENTION. 7 

^Tlle^e tbey are and wiien lliey were organized, and I will go right along 
with the gentlemen for two committees or forty committees. 

Commissioner Watts. We liave not tlic information; we were not 
posted in regard to the tacts in reference to the organization of these 
societies, llierc was no information in the Department to tell who 
they were, or what they were, or when they were organized; hnt we 
directed oar letters as best we could, and published them in the papers. 

Dr. LoKiNG. Were there any answers? 

The CoMMissiOA^ER. Very few. 

Dr. LoEiNG". Are tliey to bo seen ? 

The CorionssiONER. There is nothing in tliem. They only said, " In 
pnrsnance of yonr notice, A, B, and C iiave been elected delegates.'' 

AD]!tnSSION OF DELEaATES. 

Dr.LoEiKG. ]S'ow, sir, I will come to the point. I am president of 
the Xew England agricultural society, and it is the only office that I do 
hold in the United States, and I am proud of it [Applause.] One of 
the first circulars issued by the Department reached me. I responded 
at once as an earnest and somevrhafc enthusiastic farmer might, that the 
New England society would send two delegates. I came to the De- 
partment myself, when on business in Washington on behalf of the 
suflering fishermen of Massachusetts, to save them from ruin, and 
waited upon the Commissioner and asked him how far the call had ex- 
tended to societies. 

I am here with Colonel iJs'eedham, the secretary of the ISc^w England 
society, chosen by the society to represent it in the convention. The 
Commissioner informs Colonel Needham, the secretary, that the iSew 
England agricultural society has not been invited to. l)e prosent here. 
Now what 1 want to know is, whether the correspondence meant any- 
thing or nothing; and after the New England society has been invited, 
if its delegates are to be received in this cold mauuer. If so, and there 
is ever another convention, I hope it will be held in jMassachusetts, to 
show you what a warm reception avc will give you all there. 

Mr. PuSNELL. I have a substitute for the motion of Dr. Loriug, that 
a call be made by States, and that the delegates report themselves and 
in what capacity they are here. 

Dr. LoKiNG . 1 agree with the g-entlcman from Delav.are ; I v^ant not 
only a call of the States, but a call of the associations that have been 
invited here. 

Mr. PURNELL. They can report as they are called. 

The Chairman. The question is upon the substitute offered for tlie 
nvDtion of Dr. Loring. 

Dr. Loring. Very well, where am If [Laughter.] I don't represent 
any State; I am here from New England. There is no State society 
from Massachusetts represented here. There is a list of the agricultu- 
ral societies of this country, a printed list, in the documents of this 
Department, which I havc^ myself used in addressing a circular to 
twelve hundred or more societies, asking for information, and I have 
the responses. Now I presume that Ironi that list certain associations 
were selected to be present. Why not have that list called f— if the 
gentleman from Delaware will excuse me. There are no State societies 
in some States. 

Mr. PuRNELL. If the gentleman will allow me, for instance, when 
the State of Massachusetts is called, let Dr. Loring answer that he is 



8 NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION. 

from the State of Massachusetts, representing the Kew England so- 
ciety. 

Dr. LoKTxn. Before whaf? 

Mr. PuRNELL. Before the committee on credentials. 

Dr. LoRiNCf. That is just where I don't propose to liave it go. The 
iifew England agricultural society has been invited. I wa^it to know 
"whether we have a right to be here or not. 

Prof. Swallow. Mr. Chairman, I think this is a very simple ques- 
tion ; it seems so to me. We can get a settlement very easily ; onr 
friends from New England w(^, are very glad to see, as they no doubt 
are to see us from the West. The history of this tiling, which the Com- 
missioner has given us this morning, is simply this: He sent out a. 
communication of inquiry throughout the country to the various insti- 
tutions and societies, to know whether they would j^jitrouize such a 
meeting as this. Many of us responded that we would be very glad to 
come here, like Dr. Loring, of Massachusetts. After this correspond- 
ence the Commissioner informed us of his idea of calling the conven- 
tion, and that call settles the status of the convention. Place that 
call and the credentials in the hands of the committee on credentials, 
and they will settle the fact whether we are entitled to seats here or 
not. 

Mr. Loring. Mr. Chairman, what 1 want to know is whether the call 
was a mockery or a reality ? 

Mr. Swallow. There Avere communications of inquiry sent out. 

Dr. LoRiNa. Just what was read "? 

Mr. Swallow. Not at all. That was not the question of inqmry 
that was ficnt out. I received another one; there may have been two 
circulars. I do no not know as we have anj^ other document which can 
be tak^jn. . Let us organize on that document. 

The Chairman. The question before the house is the substitute for 
Dr. Loring's motion, offered by the gentleman from Delaware. 

Mr. Denison. I wish to inquire if there is any delegate from Massa- 
chusetts, save the one represented by Dr. Loring? 

The CHAniMAN. The chair has not a list of delegates. It does seem 
to me, with due deference to the gentlemen who have made the motions, 
that Mr. Thompson's motion would bring the question before the con- 
vention in the right way. From the list, of course, will be eliminated 
the proper delegates to the convention under the call of the Commis- 
sioner appointing two delegates from each agricultural society and col- 
lege. 

"Mr. Swallow. I will move a substitute for the substitute, the mo- 
tion made by the gentleman from Michigan, [Mr. Thompson.] 

The motion was seconded. , 

Dr. Loring. The business before the convention v.'as upon my mo- 
tion, and that motion has been amended by the gentleman from Dela- 
ware, [Mr. Purnell,] that the list of the societies and colleges called 
respond by name. Now, I will accept that proposition, and if, in that 
list, the New England Agricultural Society is not called, I shall request 
the chair to have it called. 

]Mr. Swallow. I withdraw my motion. 

Dr. Gregory. It seems to me that we arc going a very roundabout 
way to get at a simple matter, the whole convention undertaking to act 
as a committee on credentials. 1 think the chair is right in the matter, 
that a committee on credentials should be appointed, and had at the 
desire of the Commissioner of Agriculture, and that the several States 
should liand to the committee on credentials a list of the delegates. 



NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION. y 

We caiiDot sit here two dnyB to examine credentials and pass upon' 
tbem. I propose that the' motion of Mr. rurncil be laid upon the 
table. 

Colonel Needham. I object, sir, to the appointment of any committee 
or to any further organization of this convention until we have ascer- 
tained who are members of this convention. Out of whom are you 
to make your committee until you have first established v.iio are mem- 
bers and' who have aright to be upon committees'? It would seem 
as though certain persons assumed to bo legitimate members of thi.s 
convention and were determined to sit in Judgment upon certain other 
persons whose claims to membership are equally good with their own. 
Let this convention decide for itself who has the right of membership; 
it is abundantly capable of making such a decision, and it is a duty 
which it owes to itself and the gentlemen who have assembled under 
tiie call, that it should make this decision in the committee of the whole, 
and not delegate it to any half dozen men whose' rights to sit here maj^ 
be equally questioned with the rights of any others. Until this matter 
is determined, I object to any further steps toward organization. 

Mr. Gkegoey. it is ])roposed that each State nominate two dele- 
gates. 

The Chaiiiman. Let me state the question. The motion now is that 
of Br. Gregory, of Illinois, to lay the motion of the gentleman from 
Delaware upon the table. 

Mr. Eeid. I simply wish to say one word in explanation, that until 
this convention has determined who are the members, no gentleman can 
be selected as a committee on credentials. 

The motion to lay upon the table was lost. 

The Chairman. The motion of Dr. Loring, from Massachusetts, is 
before the convention. Will the gentleman state it a"gain ? 

Dr. LoEiNG. I have accepted the amendment of the gentleman from 
Delaware [IMr. Purnell] offered to my motion, that a list of the State 
agricultural so(,'ieties, colleges, and other institutions invited, and rep- 
resented here, be now called by the chair and responded to by such del- 
egates as represent them on this floor, the secretary keeping the list as 
they are called. 

The motion was agreed to. 

Mr. MURTFELDT. 1 movo that the States be called alpliabetically. 

Mr. Gregoky. State soc^ieties ^md institutions also ? 

The Chairman. Both. 

The Secretary. Mr. Chairman, it is evident, of course, that as I am 
calling the names it will be impossible to tally them. 

The Chairman. If I am at liberty I would suggest that an assistant 
secretary be appointed. 

Mr. Lewis. I nominate Mr. Charles Murtfeldt, of MissoiU'i. 

tTnanimously agreed to. 

The Chairman. Any gentleman present representing anj^ society, 
having anything in the form of credentials from agricultural or horti- 
cultural societies or colleges, will please come forward and present such 
credentials or documents as they may have. 

Dr. Loring. I move that the New England Agricultural Society be 
called in its regular alphabetical order. Carried. 

The Chairblin. 1 understand the motion adopted by the convention 
to be, that all gentlemen from the respective States will enroll them- 
selves, and then the delegates will be selected to represent the diflerent 
States in the convention. So it will be in order, without any further 
action, to enroll all gentlemen with credentials. 

The secretary then called the States in alphabetical order. 



10 NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION, 

[A complete list of delegates will ])e found at the close of the pro- 
ceedings.] , 

Comniissiouer Watts. I suggest to the couveution that, in accord- 
ance with this call, I uanied two delegiites to represent this Department. 
Tliey were William Saunders and* J. E. Dodge. 

MAEsnALL P. Wilder. In the course of procedure I feel bound, sir, 
as the president of the American Pomological Society, now in the twen- 
ty-third year of its existence, to name as delegates Marshall P. Wilder 
and James E. Mitchell, of the executive committee. 

The Chairman. Any gentleman not having presented liis credentials, 
or any delegate who may arrive hereafter, will be entitled to a seat on 
l)resenting liis credentials. 

A Meimber.- I hold a certificate from the Philadelphia Society for the 
Promotion of Agriculture, but Ave are excluded, not being a State vso- 
ciety or a college. 

Mr. Wilder. It should be known, Mr. President, that tlie society 
alluded to by the gentleman was the iirst society established on the con- 
tinent for the promotion of agriculture, and I think they ought to have 
an opportunity to be present. [Applause.] 

Mr. Edmunds. Mr. Chairman, I now move you that all the persons 
whose names have been given here, either from State societies, colleges, 
or whatever they may be, be regarded as delegates to this convention, 
inasmuch as there are no contestants. 

The motion was seconded. 

Mr. Johnstone. That is out of order, as we have a motion for the 
appointment of a committee on credentials. 

Mr. Edmunds. Well, then, Mr. Chairman, I move as a substitute for 
the committee on credentials, that, instead of that committee being aj)- 
])ointed, we now regard all the persons whose names have been reported 
hero as delegates to this convention and taken as such. 

Mr. Wheeler. I move that that motion be laid on the table. 

The Chairman. The first motion Vr'hich was made was by Mr. Thomp- 
son, of Michigan, that a committee on credentials and organization be 
appointed. He withdrew that motion with the understanding that when 
the list of delegates was made out he would renew that motion. A sub- 
stitute is now offered by the gentleman from Illinois, that all who are 
enrolled as delegates from the State and other organizations be regarded 
as delegates, and a motion is now made to l^y this on the table. 

Mr. Fielder. I wish to make a mere explanation. I take it for 
granted that no gentleman Avill offer himself as a member of this conven- 
tion unless he has a xjroper certificate from some society. We came 
■from the South to be instructed, and I want to go home and instruct my 
fellow-laborers. And, furthermore, some of the railroad companies have 
agreed to carry delegates back free. Kow, if Ave are denied admission, 
they Avill not do that. ( Laughter.] 

Mr. Wheeler, of Nebraska. Many of the distant States are repre- 
sented here under the call of the Comndssiouer of Agriculture by one or 
two delegates ; and if mechanical societies come in here with their dele- 
gates it is fin* unjust representation to States near the Capital. If some 
mechanical societies are to be represented here, let them all have voices 
on this fioor. But I do not think it is right ; they don't come under the 
call. And if you met in accordance with the call of the Commissioner, 
let lis carry it out in good faith, or act differently. And coming more 
thim a thousand miles to represent the prairies of the W^est we have to 
pay ouj' fares ourselves, and I appreliend the gentlemen from the South 
can do the same. 



NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION. 11 

# 

Mr. Johnson. I believe in getting a committee ou credentials, and 
tliat it admit all who come iicre to promote agriculture, if tbey haTC 
proper certiiicates. I bavc no feeling of jealousy; and I think every 
man should be admitte'd who can show any credentials at all. I believe 
a committee appointed as this one is proposed to be would show great 
liberality in admitting members. And 1 think, sir, it would give form, 
digTtity, and propriety to this convention to do so. 

The Chairman. The chair must insist upon strict order. The ques- 
tion is upon the laying of the motion of the gentlemanfrom Illinois [JMr. 
]^]dmunds] upon the table. 

The motion to lay on the table was lost. 

The Ohaikman. The question now is upon the substitute offered by 
the gentleman from Illinois. The gentleman v/ill bear in mind if tlie 
motion prevails it carries with it the original motion. 

Dr. LoEiNG. it does not carry the motion with it. " It substitutes the 
motion for it. 

The Chairman. The question is upon the substitute of the gentleman 
from Illinois to the original motion made by the gentleman from ]\Iichi- 
gan, which was to appoint a committee on credentials and permanent 
organization. The substitute is to allow all delegates who have enrolled 
to sit here as members of Ihe convention. 

A Me]mber. I request the privilege of adding the names of two dele- 
gates who have not yet arrived. 

The Chairman. They can be put in afterward. 

Mr. Allen, of isTew York. I have not occupied a minute of your time 
jet. But I am the sole representative of the State Agricultural Societj' 
of New York ; and we are only entitled to two delegates. Now, New 
York has between four and five millions of people. I see some of the 
State societies represented by four or fiye delegates; and now I submit 
the question whether it is right to overslaugh us by States that have 
not a million people. I don't claim any superior wisdom for our small 
delegation, but I think that votes ought to count according to delega- 
tions. I am perfectly Avilling that every gentleman may have a share in 
the discussions to the fullest extent, but when we come to vote wo ought 
to have a fair chance. 

Mr. Allen, of Connecticut. The great Empire State, Avhich is repre- 
sented by Mr. Allen, is well represented; and I think they ought to have 
more delegates here ; if they have not it is not our fault. If New York 
is to be represented by one man wo are not responsible for it. [Ap- 
plause.] 

Mr. Hancock. 1 wish to ha-vo the substitute reported again, if you 
please, sir. " ^ •" 

Tlie Chairman. The substitute is to allow all delegates who have 
enrolled their names to sit as members of the convention from all so- 
cieties. 

Dr. LoRiNG. Who have responded to the call ? 

The Chairman. Yes, sir. 
, Mr. Hancock. I presume it will be extended to those who have not 
arrived, or are not enrolled. 

Mr. Hamilton. Would it be in order to move an amendment to the 
amendment '^ 

The CiiAmMAN. Yes, sir. 

Mr. Hamilton. Then I move that all votes taken be by the call of yeas 
;)nd nays, and be voted on by States; then New York and Pennsylvunia 
will count. [" Question, question."] 



12 NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION. 

The CBLA.ni]\iAN. Tlie question is on the substitute offered by the gen- 
tleman from Illinois. 

Carried. 

Mr. Tho]\ipson. I now move that a committee on business and one on 
organization be appointed by the chair, consisting of one man from each 
State, the member of each committee to be appointed by the delegates 
from the States. 

The (Jhairman. The question is upon this motion. 

Mr. Edmunds. It seems to me that a committee of five is sufficient for 
either, and not one from each State as contemplated by the original mo- 
tion. It makes the committee too unwieldy. A committee of five is as 
good as a thousand. Let us make a working committee, and not get so 
many that they cannot do anything. 

The Chairman. Does the mover designate the number ? 

Mr. Thompson. I propose to have those committees represented by 
the States. Let every State and Territory have a voice in the busi- 
ness of this convention. 

Dr. LoRiNG. I trust that the motion of the gentleman from Michigan 
will prevail. 

The motion was unanimously agreed to. 

The Chairman. It will be necessary for tfte convention to takeatem- 
poraryrecess. "S\Tiat is the will of the convention ? 

Dr. LORING. I move we take a recess of ten minutes. 

Carried. 

RECESS. > 

The convention then, at 12 o'clock, took a recess for ten minutes. 

ASSEaiBLING. 

The Chairman. The convention will please come to order. The first 
thing in order will now be for the delegations to report the members of 
the two committees which have been appointed by order of the conven- 
tion. There will be a call of the States, and I hope each gentleman will 
send up the names promptly. 

Mr. KoBiNSON, of Ohio. I trust they wiU be announced. 

The Secretary. We find it almost impossible to ciitch the names 
and record them lu'operly. 

Mr. KoBiNSON. We can announce them and send them up in addi- 
tion. 

The Secretary. We have made many corrections already. 

A Member. I suggest that a gentleman be appointed to collect their 
papers. 

Mr. EoBiNSON. It will introduce us if we hear the gentlemen's names. 

The Chairman. The names for .the two committees can be handed up 
on one slip of paper. 

A Member. Is it understood that both committees be appointed 
now 1 

The Chairman. Both propositions were carried. Is it understood 
that where there is but one delegate he shall serve on both committees'? 
[" Yes, yes."-] • 

The Secretary called the roll of States alphabetically. The follow- 
ing is a list of the two {Committees : 

coivimittee on business. 
Alabama, E. M. Patton ; Arkansas, E. J. Searle ; California, j 



NATIONAL AGRICULTUEAL CONVENTION. 13 

Connecticnt, 13. C. Oilman -, Delaware, W. H. Puruell ; Florida, 



Georgia, Samuel Barnett; Illiuois, J. M. Gregory j Indiana, Allen Fur- 
uas ; Iowa, E. E. Shaukland ; Kansas, H. J. Strickler ; Kentucky, J. 

B. Bowman; Louisiana, -; Maine, S. L. Goodale ; Maryland, 

Samuel Register; Massachusetts, Charles L. Flint; Michigan, W. G. 

Beckwith; Minnesota, W. W. Folwell ; Mississippi, ; Missouri, 

G. C. Swallow ; ]!^ebraska, D. H. Wheeler ; ISIevada, ; New 

Hampshire, V. C. Gilman; New Jersey, N. N. Halstead ; New York, 
Ezra Cornell ; North Carolina, J. I). Bridges ; Ohio, N. Olmer ; Oregon, 

; Pennsylvania, F. Taylor; Eliode Island, George F.Wilson; 

South Carolina, General Wado Hampton; Tennessee, Hunter Nichol- 
son; Texas, Thomas G. Williams; Vermont, Peter Collier; West Vir- 
ginia, A.'Martin; Virginia, J. W. MaUett; AViseonsin, J. H. Twombly; 
American Pomological Society, Hon. Marshall P. Wilder ; District of 
Columbia, Chalkley Gilliugham; Dakota, George N. Propper; Depart- 
of AgTiculture, Hon. Frederick \Vatts; Utah, James McKnight. 

COJ\niITTEE ON OEGANIZATION. 

Alabama, S. G. Reid ; Arkn nsas, E. ,L Searle ; California, ; 

Connecticut, J. S. Allen; Delawjire, W. H. Purnell; Florida, • 

Georgia, Jonathan Norcross ; Illinois, George Edmunds ; Indiana, A, 
5. Claypool ; Iowa, A. S. Welch; Kansas, C. B. Lines; Kentucky, 
J. B. Bowman ; Louisiana, — '■ — : Maine, C. F. Allen ; Maryland, A. 
B, Davis ; Massaclnisetts, Daniel Needham ; Michigan, J. Webster 

Childs ; Minnesota, William W. Folwell : Mississippi, ; Missouri, 

R. J. Lewis; Nebraska, D. H. Wheeler; Nevada, ; New Hamp- 
shire, Governor Frederick Smith; New Jersey, Governor Theodore F. 
Randolph ; New York, Lewis F. Allen ; North Carolina, Wilham J. 

Yates; Ohio, J, P. Robinson ; Oregon, ; Pennsylvania, A. B. 

Hamilton ; Rhode Island, George F. Wilson ; South Carolina, D. W. 
Aiken; Tennessee, W. O. Atwater; Texas, John Hancock; Vermont, 
Henry Clarke ; Virginia, Lewis E. Harvie ; West Virginia, A. Martin ; 
Wisconsin, Hon. G. W. Hazelton; District of Columbia, J. E. Snod- 
grass ; Department of Agriculture, William Saunders ; Utah, James 
McKnight. 

During the call the chairman said : Is it tlie will of the convention 
that the Department of Agriculture should be represented upon this 
ilborl ["Yes, yes."] 

The Chaikjian. AVe will now have the attention of the convention, 
that we may read over these committees to verify them. 
• Mr. Swallow. Is not the National Agricultural Society en,titled to 
representation ? 

The CiiAiEiMAN. I believe it was understood tliat It would be enti 
tied ; the Department of Agriculture also. 

Mr. Swallow. I move, as there is a representation here from one of 
our national societies, that Dr. Le Moyne be put on the committee. 

Commissioner Watts. That will throw it all into confusion. 

Mr. Wilder. Without understanding, IMr. President — and I only 
mention the name of the National Pomological Society, being twenty- 
three years of age, that with due respect I thought it ought to be named ; 
but I don't quite understand the resolution. 1 withdraw my motion. 

The Chair^ian. Then it is understood that the delegation will be 
limited to States and- Territories unless the convention order othervcise. 

(Jolouel Needham. I now move the committees on organization and 



14 NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION. 

huiiiucbs be culled, iind tliat tliey liavo leiuc to retire, aud that tli6 coa- 

\-eiitioii talvc ji recess for thirty minutes*. 
Seconded. 

Mr. Allen, Sow York. Where will they go to ? [Laughter.] 
(Jommissiouer Watts. The cornmittee ou business can occupy tli© 

oihce 01 the Commissioner, aud the committee on organization the room 

just east of the Commissioner's office. 
A l.lEMBEiv. Which is east ? [Laughter.] 
Mr. Lines. I desire to ask a question. Have the committees been 

instructed? What is to be the duty of tlie organization committee'. 

I Laughter.] . , 

The CHAIR3LVN. Whatever tli^y please. [Laughter.] 
Mr. Lines. Wbat is the dxity of the liusiness committee ' 
The Chairman. Wliatever they plea.s(\ [Lfiiightcr.] 
Mr. Lines. Well, that is a. very extraordinary degree of liberty. 

[Laughter.] I wish the convention to instruct the committees in regard 

to what can be done. |"NOj no.''] Well, T suppose I can be heard for 

a minute at least. [Laughter.] 

The Chaimian. The question is tliat the convention adjourn for one- 
half hour,' and that the committee on organization, in the mean time, 

arrange for the session of the convention. 
A MEiMBEK. I made that motion half an hour ago. 

RECESS. 

The motion was carried, and at 1 o'clock the convention took a recess 
for half an liour. 

ASSEMBLING. 

The C[TA<T^:\fAM. Tlie convx'^niion Y>"ill ]ileaso come to order, 
PERSIANENT ORGANISATION. 

i>v>\ciiH;i llANBOLPii. Thc comraittee OH organization luive requested 
me to report to this convention thnt they hnve placed in nomination as 
its perhnment — 

Fresident, Dr. George <n. Loring, of Massachusetts, [applause,] with 
tlie following — " 

Ykc-;prcsidcnis : Alabama, S. G . Eeid • Arkansas, Thomas Smith : 

(Ttdifornia, ; Connecticut, E. II. Hyde ; Florida, ; Georgia, 

Herbert Fielder; Delaware, W. H. rurnell; Illinois, J. O. Cunning- 
ham; Indiana, Thomas Dowling; Iowa, E. E. Shankland; Kansas* 

Joseph Dennison ; Kentucky, J. B. Bowman ;. Louisiana, ; Maine, 

S. L. Goodale; Maryfand, A. B. Davis; Massachusetts, Hon. Marshall 
P. Wilder; Michigan, T. C. AT)bott; :Mmncsota,W. S. King ; Kebraska, 

D. H. Wheeler ; jSTevada, ; jSew Hampshire, Natt Head ; IsTew 

Jersey, George P. Cooli ; New York, Ezra Cornell ; North Carolina, N. 
W. WooJlin ; Ohio, J. P. Eobison ; Oregon,- — -— ; Pennsylvania, H. 
N. Mcxillister; Ehode I/;land, George F. Wilson ; South Carolina, D. 
W. Aiken; Tennessee, Hunter Nicholson ; Texas, William J. Hutchins; 
Vermont, Crosby Miller ; Tirginia, Thomas IJranch; West Yirginin, A. 
Martin; Wisconsin, Hon. G. W. llazelton; District of Columbia, 
Chalkey Gilliugham; Department of Agriculture, William Saunders; 
Utah, James McKnight; 

Becording secretary, E. F. Johnstone, of Michigan. 

Eeading secretary, C. ^y. Murtfeldt, of Missouri. 



NATIONAL AGKICULTUKAL CONVENTION. 15 

Oortrsponding secrctari/, J. 1\. Dodge, of Departme-ut oT AgTicrJture. 

Tilr. Wilder. I am extremely obliged, sir, to my feiloAv-associates 
for plauiug my name ou that honorable list, but there is ii gentleman 
from Massaehusetts here far better able to fill the post than myseH". 1 
kuo-»v, Hir, that perhaps it is hardly in order to decline before 1 ascertain 
that I have been elected, but I beg to amend the list, and to insert in 
the place of Wilder the name of William S. Clark, president of the 
agricnltaral college. AgTeed to. 

The Chairman. The question is upon the adoption of the report as 
amended. 

The report was unanimously adopted. 

Governor Eandolph : I move that a committee of two be appointed 
to conduct the presiding officer to the chair. 

Carried. 

The Chairman, J wonUl ap])oint Dr, Cu-egory and Dr. Eobinson. 

A Member. I rise to a poiiit of order. 1 fc is customary to appoint 
the mover on a coram ittee, 

The Chairman. Then f would apj^oint Cxovernor 3iandolph and Dr. 
Gregory a committee to escort tlie president-elect to the chair. 

Governor EANDOLrii. (ienUcmcn of the conveniion: It gives me 
very great pleasure to ijiti-oduce to you, as your xJresiding ofScer, 
Dr. George B. Loring, of Massachusetts, who received the unanimous 
vote of the committee on organizntion, and has also received your 
imanimous support. [Applause.] 

ADDRESS OF PREf^IDENT LORING. 

GENTLE3LRN OP THE CONVENTION: It is nuncccssar) u/r me to say 
to you that 1 have really been called unexpectedly to this position. 
I was not aware of the purposes of this meeting in detail, nor aware in 
any v\-ay of the organization wljicli was }>roposed to govern your sittings 
during the convention in Wasliingtnn. That I am profoundly grateful 
for it, it is also unnecessary for jae to say, because I 3(^e here repre- 
sentative men fj'oni every section of this country devoted to agriculture, 
the fundamental business of this whole land, and anxious that it shall 
be put upon a foundation which shall gi-^-e credit and prospexity to this 
entire country. [Aijplause.] 

K'ow, gentlemen, wo have met here as two classes in liie cornnnmity. 
i am sure there is no man in this convention who would decline for one 
single moment to be called a practical farmer. [Applause.] The busi- 
ness of this whole industry rests in the liands of yon and those whom 
yon represent, those men who have prepared the way by their strong 
arms and their steady purposes in the practical affairs of life, for that 
great system or American farming upon which can bo erected a higher 
and nobler structure, that untiring industry whieli planted agriculture 
in the early days upon the shores of the Atlantic, vrliich carried it on 
into the interior, inch by inch, and which enabled it, my friends, to lay 
the Ibundation of the financial success of the country in those early 
days when, your third President congratulated hiriis<>,U' that Mie United 
States had liquidated more than one-half of the old war debt from this 
very business which yon represent here to-day. [Applause.] That 
which, commencing in that simple and primitive I'orm along the 
Atlantic coast, has spread ■'tvith such, giant stride across the prairies of 
tiie W'est, has opened the path for civilization in every form, vuitil this 
whole land has become the abode of culture and elevation, aiul of high 
educational, and, as I believe, high religious purpose. 



16 NATIONAL AGRICULTUEAL CONVENTION. 

Practical bifsinesa farming-, iny friends, as carried on by the farmers 
themselves, not only lies at the fonudatiou of the linancial prosperity 
of this country, enabling your administration, ■wliicli new directs the 
l)ublic affairs of the land, to base its success in all eflicient endeavors, 
and which in all time to come "will secure the permanent and reliable 
prosperity of that country which you lovo abo^'e all others on the face 
of the earth. 

Now. gentlemen, you represent another branch of agriculture; and 
that is, that portion of the commuuity which is determined to base the 
practical business of agriculture in America upon tliat firm foundation 
of the educated mind of America. 

The agricultm-al schools, colleges, and societies are liere repre- 
sented b}' their best and wisest men. I see before me not only the 
teachers of agriculture in those institutions, l)ut tliose earnest, honest, 
and devoted men, wlio, having been crowned by Providence with 
marvelous success in life, in their business transactions, have devoted 
their great earnings to the worlc of educating the young men, and the 
young women, too, in the pra.ct)cal service of life, an honoy and a credit 
to this country, and representing a class of persons, let me assure you, 
unknown elsewhere than in your own United States of America. [Ap- 
plause.] 

I see also before me those who are anxious to know in what way the 
educational institutions of this land shall best subserve the interests of 
agriculture. Kow, my friends, I have learned recently, from one of the 
brightest and most distinguivshed members of Congress in his advocacy 
of the distribution of the public lands of this country to the great edu- 
cational fund, that the foundation of the entire political life of this land 
depends upon the success of your educational institutions. I believe also 
that this, of all countries on the face of this earth, requires an educated 
people. I know of no place here for ignorance ; none for idleness. It is 
an industrious, well educated, active and vigorous community, in which 
each man, recognizing his own individuality, is determined that the com- 
munity shall be raised to the high plan of which it is capable, and that 
the great principles of society and state, and the greatest elements of 
humanity, shall be thoroughly developed. 

I believe in education as the foundation, tlierefore, of all American 
institutions. I am sure that in no other way can you keep the labor of 
this country elevated to that standard which you ask for, as the fathers 
and brothers of those who may be toiling to-day with their own hands 
for a subsistence. There is no other Avay by which you can keep the 
compensation of those men, young and old, up to that standard required 
by American institutions and to which every free-born American, or 
American by adoption, is entitled. 

It is the cultivation of the masses of the people alone which gives pe- 
culiar value to that ownership of land which is especially the Ameri- 
can's perogative, and which, by abolishing the feudal tenure, clothes 
every man with a possession of acres, upon which he can build not only 
his dwelling, but his civil and social rights. Whenever this law is un- 
derstood, then will the agitation of the land question which vexes Mr. 
Gladstone and Lord Derby cease, and we shall see an approach to that 
uniformity of free civilization in which the American believes. [Ap- 
plause.] 

Now this is the business which you have in yoiu' hands, and for the 
purpose of patting such business as that upon a sure and firm founda- 
tion, I think our venerable and respected Conunissioner of Agriculture 
has called you together. 



NATIONAL AGRICULTUKAL CONVENTION. 17 

Now, ouc word witli regard to this institutiou under wLicli we are 
gathered. I have great confideuce in the capacity of an institution like 
this to be of vast service to the American Government. I think it should 
not only be a Department for the investigation, in a somewhat limited 
manner, of certain questions interesting to the i)ractical farmer himself, 
nor a Department lor the simple furnishing of the farmer with those 
articles in his business which lie may not be able exactly to get else- 
where, but that it should be a Department going hand in hand with your 
agricultural college, and that it should lend aid and consolation to agri- 
cultural societies. That there should be placed in its hands such a 
thorough and perfect understanding of the value of the public domain 
of the United States that every man furnishing himself with land-scrip 
shall find that laud-scrip already located for himself, and covering lands 
which he may desire in his business, and t^iat there should not be a uni- 
form scrip scale, but a graduated one, in which the people of the United 
States should understand that there is a difference in thequality of their 
lands, and that that great fund of laud which they now possess shall 
be disposed of on exactly the same principle that the wise husband- 
man woukl exercise towards his oavu possession. I trust, therefore, 
this Department will one day be clothed with higher powers and in- 
spired with higher purposes. It should not be in any living sense a 
pensioner or a beggar, but it should take its staud alongside of those 
Departments which give strength and power to the Government, and on 
which the Executive of this great land leans for support when inii)ortant 
questions of state come before him for decision. It should be a I3epart- 
meut of land, of water-power, of the great resources of the country, show- 
ing continually what your laud is Avorth and where your resources lie. 

There is another branch of this institution in which I have taken pe- 
culiar interest. There is here one of the most i)erfecfc museums in the 
land. I think the scientific men here will agree with me that the prin- 
ciples are most admirable, and that the system which -is adopted for 
classification is one that will be of vast service to the Avliole inquiring 
community. That this museum should be liberally supported there is 
no manner of doubt ; and I trust the convention, befOi-e its adjournment, 
will express itself in a most forcible manner in favor of this branch 
which it is their bounden duty to jsreserve and protect. 

Gentlemen, I have detained you longer than I intended to, and longer, 
perhaps, than you desired, and thanking you for the honor you have 
conferred upon me, I now call for the regular (uder of business. 

[Applause.] 

Commissioner Watts. There was so little time afforded the commit- 
tee on business to act, while they discussed some subjects and came to 
a partial conclusion, tliey thought they would only make a partial report 
to the convention, and ask the indulgence of further time to make a 
final report. And the secretary will read what the committee did do. 

The .Secketahy then read the following : 

EEPOET OF THE BUSINESS COMMITTEE. 

The committee having assembled, the Hon. Commissioner of Agi-icul- 
ture submitted, along with some remarks, the following preamble and 
resolutions : 

Iiecommeiulecl that the convention meet at 10 a. m., and adjourn at 3 p 

That so far as tlicy are now informed, there are four toj)ics requiring the attention 

of the couveutinu, namely : 

] . The espedienoy of seeking farther land-grants from Congress for the promotio'^ ^f 

colleges of agriculture and the meohauic arts. 

S- Mis. 161 2 



18 NATIONAL AGBIOULTUllAL CONVENTION. 

't. Tlic snlyccfc of establisliiiig osperimental liiruis and stations for tlio innmutiou oi 
iigi'icultiual kuoAv ledge. 

0. The questiou of modifying the military instruction given iiithe mitionul collegea 
of agi-icultnral and mechanic arts. 

•1. The best methods of co-operating -with one another, and -n-ith tlie Department ol' 
Agriculture. 

The order of discussion: (lio committee leave to the convention. 

Under the fourth lieiid, "co-operation with the Department of Agri- 
culture," the Commissioner of Agriculture has prepared an elaborate 
palmer. 

Governor Smyttt. I move thai; the comniiUceliavc further time. Car- 
ried. 

Mr. C. L. Flint, oi' Massachusetts. There was a paper submitted by 
the Commissioner of Agriculture to tlie business committee, which 
ought to be laid before th* conventioi^, and I suggest that he be 
requested to read it. 

Tlio motion was agreed to. 

Commissioner Watts. The net of Jul.y 2, 1SG2, i^5 an earnest expres- 
sion of Congress that a scientific education is essential for the develop- 
ment of agricultural knowledge, and evinces the determined purpose ol' 
the Government, through the ap;ency of the State legislatures, to es- 
tablish institutions of learning wliere the youth of the country may be 
trained and properly fitted to elevate the standard of active practical 
life, and secure for it the increased fruits of skillfully directed labor. It 
becomes those; therefore, who are directly interested in this subject to 
take active meast>res to second the effort, and mftke use of the means 
which have been adopted by Congress for their benefit. In the prose- 
cution of this object it is manifestly the duty of individuals interested 
in its promotion to examine the subject, and point out the detailed pro- 
cesses by whicli the design and bounty of Congress may be made most 
available. 

This conventioji, composed of such as have taken an active paH in 
the prosecution of agricultural study, has been convened to consider 
this. .Tliat the points which necessarily present themselves may be 
duly considered, we present the following resolutions : 

Eeioh-cd, Tliat it will greatly conduce to the snecesfiful operations of agricultulo 
throughout the Avorld that its oi)era.tors should liavnthe light of scientific knowledge 
to guide the work. 

RcHolccd, That we recognize in tlin act of Congress of July 9, 1862, the foumlation 
lipon which may be organized and built colleges and schools, where the scientiiic prin- 
ciples and knowledge of agriculture may be taught, and that it is our anxious desire 
and duty to foster and encourage them in the Avork of educating faruiers. 

Eesolved, That in the establishment of agricultural colleges and schools, their organ- 
ization should embrace the following principles : 

1. They should be instinctively agricultural in their government and teachings; 
that whilst no branch of learning shall 1)0 excluded, whether it be the knoviiedgo 
language, of mechanics, or military tactics, yet tlio main design should bo a laiov.-! • 
edge 01 all those branches of natural and exact science and practical skill which pecu- 
liarly belongs to a finished agricultural education. 

2. That in any sueh college or school actual manual labor .should be pr.Tcticed and 
taught. 

3. That females, as well as males, may be admitted as pupils, 

licsolved, That horliciiltural and agricultural societio.<?, and agricultural colleges and 
schools, are co-laborers in the same field, and tend to promote tho same object — the 
proper cultivation of the soil ; and that aU the.se should unite on any plan of educa- 
tion by which tho light of knowledge should be made to shine upon their work. 

Iicsolved, That the Department ot Agriculture is also a creature of theGovernment. 
eatablishcd for tho same great purpose of cherishing aiKl promoting the interests of 
agriculture, and that ils efficiency must necessarily depend upon its intimate couneu- 
tion with all other agricultural institutions which e-\.ist in this and foreign countries ; 
ajicl wo tfeereibro recommend to the said Deiiartnieut that it establish such a relation 



KATlOWilL AGIUCULTURAL CONVENTiOi\. id 

nitJj tUu ugi'icaiTtnnil colleges and schools, auil horticulturul and ugriculturul societies, 
as tliat there nitiy Ijo a continuous exchange of iuformatiou, seeds, roots, plants, and 
liublieations, as shall he mutually advantageous, and conduce to the leading agricul- 
lural aud horticultural interests of the country. 

The Peesident. You beau the preambles and resolntious ])re.sciiteil 
by the Commissioner of Agriculture; what actk)u will you take I 
, Mi\ EoEisojsr. I move that it bo referred to t'ae committee on busiuesy. 

The motion was seeoDtlcd. 

Commissioner Watts. It was read l)efore the committee, ami the 
co;nmittee referred it to the convention. 

Mr. SWiLLLOW. I move that the paper be laid on the tabic until the 
fourth subject reported by the l)usiuess committee be brought before 
the couvention. 

Carried. 

Mr. GreCtORY. 1 understand that there are some reason^ ^vhy the 
first topic should be discussed early. I move that, therefore, it be now 
taken up. 

Agreed to. 

Mr. GnEGOiiY. I would usk tor a readiug oi' that part of tliu bill o( 
1SG2 making* api^ropriations. 

jMr. EoBisoN. Will it be out of order to move the adoption of that 
]>art of the conunittee's reijort that tlie convention sit from 10 o'clock 
a. m. to 3 o'clock p. m.'? 

Mr. FoLY,TELL. I would like to move a substitute that this subject be 
made the special order for to.-movrov/ at W o'clock, and that it ha re- 
ferred, in the mean time, to five members. . 

The President. It is already voted to consider it at the present Lime. 

A ME3IBER. I move to reconsider it. 

Mr. Gregory. I hope it will not be reconsidered, as 1 think wa are 
ready to proceed. 

The President. It is moved by Dr. Eobison, of Ohio, that the recom- 
mendation of the committee that the convention meet at 10 o'clock in 
the forenoon and adjourn at 3 o'clock in the afteriloon be adopted. 

Carried. 

The President. The convention has already voted to take up and 
consider this question at the present time. 

Mr. Folwell. I withdraw my motion for making it a special order. 

''equalization of land-grants." — address of professor fol- 
well, OF MINNESOTA. 

Mr. President : I Vvill only ask for a little time to consider this ques- 
tion uo\v. 
I beg to call j'our attention to the act of July, 1862 : 

Andle itfurtlier enacted, That all moneys derived from the sale of the lands aforesaid 
hy the States to -which the lands are apportioned, and from the sales of land-scrip 
hereinbefore j)ro\dded for, shall be invested in stocks of the United States, or of tiio 
States, or some other nafe stocks, yielding not less than 5 iier centum upon the par 
value of said stocks, and that the moneys so invested shall constitute a perpetual fund, 
tlie capital of which shall remain forever undiminished, (except so far as may be jiro- 
vidod in section fifth of this act,) and.tho interest of %vhich shall be inviolably appro- 
jyriated by each State which mny take and claim the benefit of this act, to the endow- 
ment, sujiport, aud maintenance of at least one college, where the leading object shal} 
be, without excluding other scientific and classical studies, and including military tac- 
tics, to teach such branches of learning as are related to agriculture and the mechanic 
arts, in such manner as the legislatures of tho States may respectively prescribe, in 
order to promote the liberal and practical educaiiou of tHo industrial classes in thu 
several pursuits aud professions in life. (Statutes at Large, vol. 12, p. 501, see. 1.) 



20 NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION. 

This section clearly sets forth the objects had iu view hj Congress in 
that piece of legislation. 

It is well known that the act of 1SG2 apportioned the public laud iu 
proportion to the representation .of each State, giving 30,000 acres to 
each Senator and Eepresentative in Cougress. It is quite evident that 
the apportion uieut was an unjust oue. Eleven States or Territories then 
unrepresented got nothing at all. There were many large States which 
got veiy small portions, and many small States Avhich got very large 
portions. 

That basis of allotment was changed by the census of 1870, and will 
be changed anoAv by each succeeding census. Eeally it changes from 
hour to hour. I thiuk it is time to call for an equalization of the grant. 
The law of 18G2 ^ives Mitineaota, Avith her 83,000 square miles, 120,000 
acres, and N^cw York, with her -17,000 square miles, 01)0,000 acres. If 
there was a new apportionment this year New York would get only 
870,000 acres, while Minnesota would be entitled to 150,000 acres. Our 
additional share of 36,000 acres, at $5 per acre, would be Avorth -$130,000. 
At the close of another decade, Minnesota would be entitled, upon the 
same basis, to at least four additional shares, equal to 120,000 acres, 
which would be worth, at $5 an acre, 8'>00,()00. New Y^ork might lose 
two, or ev^en three shares. The results of the census of 1870 would be 
that each of the New England States would lose oue share and Massa- 
chusetts two ; Ohio, Louisiana, aud Kentucky would lose one share each, 
and Tennessee two ; Texas, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Kansas would 
gain one ; Illinois and Iowa would gain tvfo. 

We have been agitating this matter in Minnesota for three years. I 
simply wish at this time, Mr. Chairman, to open the matter, and not fully 
to discuss it. Those of us who have come here in favor of this have no 
bill prepared. We might just as well ask Congress for one hundred mil- 
lion as for oue million acres of land. We have yet oue thousand millions 
of acres uusurveyed. Now, to remedy this unjust apportionment of 
Avhich I have been speaking, I would ask Cougress for a large additional 
land-grant, to be portioned according to area; but I would fix a certain 
minimum, say five hundred thousand acres, and a certain maximum, say 
two million a<;res. 

The Government has, during its whole history — aud you might go 
clear back to the old confederation — granted lauds for education upon 
the basis of area, as, for instance, one section or two sections per town- 
ship. The distribution according to population was a departure fi-om an 
old and well-settled policy of the Government. I think it well to return 
to that policy. The grants of lands for education have not been liberal 
on the part of the Government. • It has given to railways aud wagon 
roads over two hundred millions of acres, but to education of all kinds 
but eighty millions. 

In regard to the matter of military iustruction, some say — although, 
perhaps, I ought not to anticipate my friend, Dr. Gregory, from Illinois — 
that \\G find it difficult to carry out the provisions to the letter of the 
law. Since the close of the late war a new system of tactics has been 
Tutroduced, with which the volunteer officers are unacquainted, and the 
War Department will not detail officers of the Army to the colleges. 
My own view is that Congress should enact that whenever the Secretary 
of War cannot or will not detail an officer togive this military instruc- 
tion it should not be required. 

One other point. Auy new act which shall equalize these laud-grants 
should very clearly state that the resulting endowments are for mi'tver- 
sity irurxioscs. I am quite clear on that matter myself. The act of 1862 



NATIONAL AGEICULTURAL CONVENTION. 21 

hero before me reads, " colleges, whoro the leading object shall be, with- 
out excluding- other scientific and classical studies, and including mili- 
tary tactics, to teach such branches of learning as are related to agri- 
culture and the mechanic arts." Universities are institutions which 
exclude no studies, and such institiitious are clearly contemplated in 
this law. If there was any such thing as the tacking on of one part to 
another in the law, it is the practical or technical education which is 
tacked on to the lihcral education in the other classical and scientific 
studies. I am in favor of a university educatiou, in which all industrial 
departments shall have room; and I would be glad to see a provision 
in the law which I hope this convention will demand of Congress, that 
any institution^whatever which fails to conduct the departments of agri- 
culture and the mechanic arts in the most efficient manner practicable 
shall forfeit the whole endowment. We of Minnesota are willing to ac- 
cept land-gTants upon such conditions every day. 

"AGRTCULTITEAI^ EDUCATION." — ADDRESS OF PEOFESSOU, GREGOEYj 

OF ILLESOIS. 

In the presence of this body of men I feel somewhat diffident, where 
gray hairs abound and where I see laborers who have done so much for 
the i^romotiou of agricultural education. 

The question of the necessity of further grant of lands for the promo- 
tion of agricultural educatiou is, to my mind, obvious beyond all de- 
bate. I do not think that there can be among those who are informed 
at all any two oi>inions upon the subject. 

The proposition of President Folwell has been before «orae of us, per- 
haps all of us, in the printed form : and I noticed in the proceedings of 
Congress the passage of an act by the House of Eepresentatives for the 
granting of the net proceeds. My impression v,' as that this forestalled, 
if it should pass the Senate and become the law of the land, any eftbrts 
to secure additional special grants for agriculture find mechanical edu- 
cf^tion. But the proposition itself now pending before the Senate seems 
to be objectionable in more than one respect. 

It seems to me that the a]ipropriation of an entire school fund, 
whether State or national, to the single pur})ose of paying the wages 
of common-school teachers is a misappropriation of a considerable part 
of it. It seems to me that a system of public education having for 
its object the education of the Vvhole people must recognize some other 
agencies than the simple work of the common-school teachers in the 
schoolroom. And I appeal to the gentlemen here to-day, for I see 
some who have, like myself, had some experience in laboring for common 
schools, if the great stumbling-block in the vray of the improvement 
of those schools, the exercising of , the great end and object of those 
schools, is not the want — the great want — a want almost impossible 
to be supplied, of good teachers. I have made the proposition in 
public, when I had some public connection with this question, that with 
a distribution of their public-school fund such as I would indicate to 
them for the training of teachers, I would guarantee, and I think any 
'superintendent of public instruction in the United States would under- 
take to guarantee the same thing, that, without one dollar's cxjjense 
more than is now incurred, we can double the product of the common 
schools within ten years. I know that the superintendents will say : 
" If you will give us means to train the teachers for your common 
schools, then half the time will be worth the whole now expended in 
those schools," We all do know this: that there are many schools 



22 NA,TiONAI, AGRlCtlT.tttRAj. fJONvRNTIOK. 

tauftlit, or ill wliieli ilie iiiotious of toatiljing at least are made, in wliicli 
there is uo product ; and some of us can testify that we got more our- 
selves from three luouths' schooliu,';" uudcr t<3acher8 who l;new h.ow ti,> 
u^jich than fi-om three years iiudei; those who did not. 

On my Avuy hero from Illinois, as the ears stopi^ed from poiirt to point, 
I took the precautioit to pencil dowji what seemed to me a very jusi 
apportionment; and I want to say t/O my friend Professor Eolwell that 
the apportionment of land to States that have land, and laml-serip 
to States that have laud, is not and cannot be an equitable apportion- 
ment. Fifty or fifty-six cents or one dollar an acre for scrip, what does 
it amount to ? He has already told yon it is worth live dollars per acre 
to them in Minnesota. Then the older States, it seems,«did not get half 
as much money as the new States that got less scrip but more lands. 

With your permission, gentlemeu, I will read this resolution, not now 
to be acted upon, but as a more compact statement of the matter : 

"Whereas tbe cdncatiou of the iieople — the whole people — iu a country and under a 
Governjiieut etich as otira, is of such vast public importance, -and must necessarily 
InTolvo such immense and confined e::pense, that it may justly be asked of the states- 
men of this age to seize the opportunity offered by the possession of a grea,t public 
domain to create a. fund and Tvliich shall guarantee through comiug ages tlie existence 
and support of public scJiools; and 

Whereas uo system of common schools ever did, nor, from the nature of things, can, 
exist and be maintained in full efficiency and power without the coexistence of a cor- 
responding system of higher education for the preparation of teachers and the advance- 
ment of science; and 

Whereas the system of higher education requires numerous and efficient normal 
schools and high schools for the training of teachers for the common schools, and thor- 
oughly provided polytechnic, scieutiiic, and literary colleges and universities for the 
advancement of ajionee and the useful arts and for the training of teachers for the 
normal and high schools and other institutions and for the care of Government aiid 
scientific works; and 

Whereas the wide and rax>id extension of the, system of agriculttiral and polytecliuic 
schools and colleges, under the direct .and liberal patronage of the Governments of 
Europe, demands corresriionding efforts by our own Govenniients. national and State, 
to give our arts and manufoctures equal chances in the markets of the v.'orld, and in 
the always increasing risks of commercial competitions : Therefore, 

Besolved, That this convention of the agriculturists and educators of the several 
States represented heartily concur in the proposition now pending in Congress, to 
devote the entire net income of the public lands henceforth to the promotion of public ' 
education. But, 

Eesolvfd, That, in otir opiniou, the devotion of this entire fund to the single purpose 
of paying the wages of common-school teachers is neither wise nor cxpedi(?nt, since it 
atTords .i larger aid than is needed to stimulate the employment of teachers the 
requisite time, and leaves unaided other branches equally necessary to the true and 
vabiable education of the people, all experience proving that the main and serious 
defect iu our pi'esent common-school system is too frequent and forced employment of 
incompetent teachers, whose labors are often useless and sometimes even hurtful. 

Ecsohfd, That this convention recommend, and respectfully urge, upon Congress a 
wise distribution of the fund in question betwceu the common schools, the normal and 
high schools, and the agricultiu-al, polytechnic, and other State colleges and univer- ' 
sities. 

Ixesolrcd, That this conYcntion further recommend the following as the basis of such 
distribution : ' 

1st, One-third of tlie fnndy or the income thereof, to bo .apportioned to the States on 
the basis of the number of children between the ages of six and fifteen years, to l>e 
used in the payment of teachers' wages or in tlie purchase of school libraries, on such 
plan as earli State may dctea-mine. ^ 

2d. One>-third to be apportioned to the sevei'al States on the same basis as before, to 
bo used it\ the support of normal schools .and of normal classes in high schools, in such 
way as tlie several State legislatures may determine : I^rovidcd, That at least one-haK 
of such fund shall ]>e .appovtioued to the several schools in the proportion of the number 
of normal jinpils who shall complete the normal course and pass the examinations pre- 
scribed by th(^ superintendent of pu))]ic instruction tu- other i>r<)per St.'ite authorities ; 
and, 

3d. The remaining tJiird to be apportioned to the several States a,s follows : One- 
half on the basis of the p(^>tilation of such State, and one-half on the basis of area of 



lUTIONAL AGRfCULTUBAL CONVENTION. 28 

tho .Sintos, to bo iisoA in tlto. snpporii of llio aoTienllnm], polylf^flmic, find oMior 8ta.to 
collogos aTuI uuivorsitics, in bucIi way as tlio several )Statea niay (loter;niiio. 

1 Yontiu'c in these resolutions to include this matter of detail, because 
iiiauy of you will remember that in New York State $18,000 ^Yere appro- 
priated for teachers, or normal classes iu the academics of the iState, 
and everybody was got into these classes that could not be got into the 
academy iu any other way. 

This compactly expresses, with xierhaps some other limitations that I 
would add, my ideas on the subject. 1 only Avish to detain you for a. 
moment to say that having worked for the last few years in two States 
in connection with the agricultural colleges and having been interested 
in the progress ©f these colleges before "the grant of 1SG3 in the Staff*. 
of Michigan, and since that grant in the same State and in another 
v^^tate, I am prepared to state that the States accepting the grant and 
undertaking the work did so under an api^reheusion, in some cases at 
least, of the value of this grant that has prored entirely false and falla- 
cious. 

It is claimed that the earliest movement for the establishment of 
industrial schools and universities was made hi the State of Illinois. In 
IStll a convention Avas called in that State, passed resolutions in favor 
of such an institution, and providing for a petition to their State legis- 
lature to ask Congress for this grant. It began first in a single county, 
and soon the Avhole State was aroused. Resolutions without number 
were passed, laid before their legislature, and Avhistled down the Avind 
for some time, and laughed at as perfectly absurd— the idea of becoming 
an educated agriculturist! But the agriculturists rallied, and the result 
was that the State of Illinois sent the first joint resolutions asking Con- 
gress for the grant. It Avas expected that this fund Avould give at least 
half a million dollars, or more than that. Congress, as you know, passed 
the law. It was A^etoed. It was repassed and signed by anrlllinois 
President, Abraham Lincoln. [Applause.] 

As an Illinoisian I am not here to ventilate my State pride, but I 
mention these facts to prove that we have been a long time thinking 
upon this subject. Illinois was the first to accept it, and supposed in 
a'Cceptiug it it was getting a grant of 480,000 acres of good land, We 
had no public laud, and so Avere compelled to take the scrip. After we 
had accepted it, and engaged as a State to build and maintain a college, 
then came another act of Congress, ex jwst facto, I think, which cut off 
a large portion of the Aalue of the original grant. Additional restric- 
tions were imposed upon the location of the scrj]), and thus it was much 
reduced i*i its value. 

jSTow, I do not think that (he gentlemen lioui the coilcges of the newer 
States were a party to this. They are too large hearted and too liberal ; 
but I do think the laud speculators surrounded Congress and secured 
the enactment of laAVS taking the money out of our pockets. This 
ought ncA'er to have been done. And but for the large donations of one 
countrj' and the appropriations of the State legislature, never willing 
to yield in its purposes in this matter, avc should to-day be wallowing in 
the dust of defeat. 

Vie are ail practical farmers here. There is not another employment 
under heaven that requires such a Avido range of knowledge as the cul- 
tivation of the soil. And if Ave arc to get men Avho are to be the leaders 
and organizers of agriculture, to make them competent ibr the work avo 
must ImA'C in our colleges CA^ery single gem iii that great coronet )f 
knoAvledge tliat lies around t!ic broAv of the nineteenth century ?'^'i^- 
resented. [Applause.] 



24 NATIONAL AGEICULTITRAL CONVENTION. 

It Las been bruited all over Europe that ten million acres of laud 
were given for this grant, and we thus stand pledged before the w.orld 
to some grand thing for agricultural education. Now I don't care what 
apportionment' is made, so that "we all get enough of it for our great 
work. There is an abundance, a thousand million acres of public land. 

Mr. FoLWELL. Uu surveyed f 

Professor Gregory. Yes, unsurveyed and unsold. 

Now, the schools and colleges should liave a large share of this land, 
instead of its being appropriated wholly to the railroad companies and 
other corporations, each one of which," like the flies that beset the old 
horse in summer, are ready to be regorged as soon as the other is gone. 
[Laughter.] 

I don't care what proposition is adopted, mine or President Folwell's, 
or any other one. But if there can be found an equitable basis that 
shall give us, not a delusive scrip that must go into the hands of 
speculators who push the prices down as long as you have any land to 
sell and push it up as soon as they get it into their hands, then let us 
have it. Give us money or give us lands 5 but in any case give us 
something that is substantial. 

Mr. Fielder, of Georgia. Mr. President, I offer the following reso- 
lution : 

"Whereas the, bounty of lands devoted by the United States Government to affricul- 
tural colleges in the several States was not accepted by the State of Georgia until the 
year 1866 ; and ' 

Whereas soon after that time the State government thus accepting said grant \7aR 
interrupted and set aside by the General Government, and the new government of 
Georgia neglected to carry into operation an agricultural college as was required by the 
act of Congress ; and 

Whereas the present legislature of that State are anxious to have the benefit of the 
bcwuty of the Government so forfeited by neglect: Therefore, 

liesolved, That this convention most respectfully petition that the Congress of the 
United States extend the time for the State of Georgia, and other States in like manner 
that have not yet received the benefit, to put in o])eration a commercial college as con- 
templated by the Government. 

1 simply desire to refer this resolution to the committee on business ; 
and on that committee will be one of the ablest men in the State of 
Georgia. 

Eeferred. 

Mr. FoL^TELL. I now move that the resolutions of Dr. Gregory and 
my own matter be referred to a committee of five members, and that 
the subject be made the special order for to-morrow at 10 o'clock. 

The motion was agreed to- 

Mr. Barnett. I move, sir, the appointment of a special committee of 
five, to whom shall be referred the subject-matter of the fifth resolution 
in the report of the Commissioner of Agriculture. 

Carried. 

Mr. Gregory. I move the reference of the report of the business 
committee relating to military education to a committee of five, to 
report at some hour to be decided by the convention. 

Carried. 

Mr. NicnoLSON. I inove that the subject of experimental stations 
and farms, as mentioned by the business committee, be referred to a 
committee of five. 

Mr. Lewis. I rise to a j)oint of order. The point is this : As I under- 
stand it, this report and resolutions have already been referred to the 
business committee as a whole, and now it is proposed to take it in de- 
^il and refer it to different committees. 

The President. The propositions already made have simply covered 



NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION. 25 

the points made by tlie business committee itself, and therefore the 
chair considers that they are entirely in order. The question is on the 
motion of Mr. Nicholson from Tennessee. 

Carried. 

Mr. SwALi,ow. I move we now adjourn. 

The President. If the gentleman will excuse the chair, he desires to 
make the appointment of these committees. 

Mr. Gregory. It is known to many of the members of the convention 
that a convention was held in Chicago in August last. At that conven- 
tion it was voted that a committee of one from each State be appointed 
to prepare a plan for the establishment of experimental stations. Under 
the instruction of the convention I appointed such committee after the 
canvention adjourned. By request of several members of the commit- 
tee I called a meeting of that committee to be held in the city of Wash- 
ington to-day. 

I call for a meeting of this national committee, that they may organ- 
ize and proceed with their work. There are several members of the 
committee here ; I do not know how many. 

Mr. Martin. I move that this convention recommend all the colleges 
and universities of the country to introduce a suitable text-book on 
agriculture. Such a work as Morrison's Manual, it seems to me, should 
be studied as well as chemistry or botany or any other study. 

The President. The chair would announce the following com- 
mittees : 

equalization op LAND-aRANTS. 

Messrs. William W. Folwell, Minnesota; J. G. Bowman, of Kentucky j 
D. C. Gilman, of Connecticut; J.C.Abbot, of Michigan; Herbert Fielder, 
of Georgia. 

MILITARY education. 

Messrs. J. IsL Gregory, of Illinois; W. S. Clark, of Massachusetts; 
Henry Clark, of Vermont ; J. M. Klippart, of Ohio; H. E. Alvord, of Vir- 
ginia; A. S. Welch, of Iowa. 

EXPERniENTAL STATIONS. 

Messrs, Hunter Nicholson, of Tennessee ; Daniel Needham, of Massa- 
chusetts; John Hamilton, of Pennsylvania; S. W. Johnson,, of Con- 
necticut ; L, P. Allen, of New York. 

The President. The following has been placed in my hands : 

Washecgton, D, C, Fcbrnanj 15, 1873. 
Deak Siu : The members of tbo National Agricuhural Convention, with their friends 
raid ladies accompauj'ing them, are invited to be present at the third reception and 
sociable of the Pennsylvania republican association, to be held on Alonday evening 
nest, the 19th instant, at the Masonic Temple. Tickets vrill be supplied on applica- 
tion to 

Yours, truly, 

JOSEPH M. WILSON, 
Of the Division o/Sfatisiics, Department of Agriculture. 
Dr. George B. Long, 

President of the Convention. 

Mr. Allen. What is that "? 

The President. That is merely a courteous invitation, and not a ques- 
tion for discussion. [Laughter.] 
A Meimber. Do they have dancing ? 



26 NATIOItTAL AGRJCULTUBAI. CON^^^HTI0^^. 

AJ\lEMBEr.. What do they do ihem'i Has it any coiiueotion wiMi 
agriculture ? 

The Peesldent. They propose to iuv^estig'ate the fruits of agricuituve. 

Mr. Gregoky. I iQove that Professor A. S. Welch be added to the 
committee on military education, as he is well qualified to assist the 
committee in its work. 

Carried. [Inserted above.] 

The President. I would appoint us the committee on the— 

FIFTH RESOLUTION. 

Messrs. Barnett, of Georgia; Curtis,of the District of Columbia; Smyth, 
of l^ew Hampshire ; Reynolds, of Illinois j Eobinson, of Ohio. 
Mr. Ejng. 1 move we do now adjourn.' 
Agreed to ; and at 3 o'clock p. m. the convention adjourned. 



• COMPLETE LIST OF BELEaATES. 

Alahama. — State Agricultural College, Judge T. A. Waliier, Jackson- 
ville ; State Agricultural Union, Captain John F. Burns, Selma ; State 
Agricultural and Mechanical Association, S. G. Eeid, president, Mont- 
gomery: George P. M. Pattou, Florence; Colonel J. M.' Sutherlin, Green- 
ville. 

Arlrmms. — State Agriculkiral and Mechanical Association, Hon. 
Powell Clayton, Pine Bluffs; Hon. Thomas Smith, E. J. Searle, Arka- 
delphia; National Agricultural Association, F.C.Johnson. 

California. — 

Connecticut. — State Agricultural Society, E. H. Hyde, Statibrd; State 
Board of Agriculture, J. S. Allen, vice-president, East Yv'indsor; T. S. 
Gold, West Cornwall; Sheftield Scientific School, Professor S. W. Jolm- 
son. Sew Haven ; Professor D. C. Gilmau, New Haven. 

Bclaioarc. — State Agricultural College, AY. H. Purnell, Newark. 
^ Ocorgia. — State Agricultural Society, Herbert Fielder, Cuthbert Alver, 
StalTord; Barnesville, E. L. Somers, Barnesville: Samuel Barnett, 
Atlanta ; Jonathan Norcross, Atlanta. 

Florida. — 

Illinois. — State Board of Agricuituie, Hon, John P. iie;\uolds, Kock- 
ford; Hon. George Edmunds, jr.; Industrial University, Professor J. M. 
Gregory, Champaign; Judge J. O.'Cauniugham, Champaign. 

Indiana — State Horticultural Society, Hon. Allen Furnas, ])resideiit, 
Xndiauax)olis; Hon. I. D. G. Nelson, Fort Wayne; State Board of Agri- 
culture, Hon. Thomas Howling, Terrc Haute; Hon. A, B. Claypool, 
Connersville. 

Iowa. — State Agricultural Society, Colonel John Scott, president; 
State Agricultural College, Hon. A. S. Welch, president, Ames; State 
Horticultural Society, Hon. G. G. Wright, Des Moines ; Hon. Jolin Cleg- 
horn, Des Moines ; Dubuque Horticultural Society, E. E. Shanklan.d, 
president, Dubuque; George W. Jones, Ames; Woodbury County Agri- 
cultural Society, Hon. G. W'. Donnan, Des Moines. 

Kansas. — State Agricultural Society, H. J. Striekler, president, To- 
peka ; Alfred Grey, secretary, Wyandotte ; State Horticultural Society 
Hon. C. B. Lines, AVabaunsee, Dr. AVilliam M. Howsiey; State Agrieid- 
tural College, Joseph Dcnison, president; Charles Eeyliolds, Fort Kiley 



KATTOKAL AGRIClTLTXJRAIx CONTENTION. 27 

Kentucky. — Ilnivorsity of Kentucky, J. B. Bowman, regent, Lexiiigtoii. 

Louisiana. — 

Ma inc.- State Agricultural Society, Hou. William P. Wingate, Augusta ; 
f:;amuel L. Boardmau, secretary, Augusta ; State Agricultui-al College, 
Charles F. Alleu, presideut, Orono; State Board of Agriculture, Profes- 
M»r M. C. Periiald, presideut, Orono; S. L, Goodale, Saco. 

Mariiland.—^idJiQ Agiicultural Society, lion. A. B. Davis, Baltimore; 
State AgTicultural College, Eov. Samuel Register, Agricultural Col- 
lege post-ofdce. 

MassacJmsetts. — State Horticultural Society, Charles S. Sar^eat, Bos- 
ton ; William C. Strong, Boston ; State Board of Agriculture, Hon. Mar- 
shall P. Wilder, president, Boston ; Hon. Charles L. Flint, secretary, 
Boston ; Joseph N. Sturtevant, South Framingham ; B. Lewis, Sturte- 
vant. South Framingham; State Agricultural College, W. S. Clark, 
Amherst. 

Michigan.— St'dte Agricultural Society, W. G. Beckwith, president, 
Dowagiac ; State AgTicultural College, Hon. J. Webster Childs, Ypsi- 
lanti, T. C. Abbot, president, Lansing; State Pomological Society, J. P. 
Thompson, president ; Grand Eapids, A. S. Duckmau, South Haven ; 
E. F. Johnson, Detroit ; I^orthern ]\Iichigan Agricultural Society, Hon. 
George W. Griggs, Hon. Anderson Stout, Saint John's. 

Minnesota. — State Agricultiu-al Society, Hou. James H. Baker ; State 
Horticultural Society, Captain Henry E. Wighels, Minneapolis; Colonel 
William S. King; State University of Agricultural and Mechanical 
Arts, Professor William W. Folwell, president,. Minneapolis; North- 
western Agricultural and Mining Association, Hou. D. Morrison. 

Missouri.— State Horticultural Society, Charles W. Murtfeldt, Saint 
Louis ; E. J. Lewis, Kansas City ; State Agricultural College, Professor 
G. C. Swallow, Columbia ; State Board of Agriculture, Hon. Norman J. 
Coleman, Saint Louis ; Charles V. Eiley, Saint Louis. 

ilfmiss«j9j;L— State University, Dr. George Little, Oxford; Dr. B. W. 
Hilgard, Oxford. 

Nebvasl-a.— State Agricultural Society, Major D. H. WJieeler, Plntts- 
mouth ; State Horticultural Society, James H. Masters, presideut ; J. 
Sterling JMorton ; State Board of Agriculture, Colonel E. H. Turner, 
president. 

Nevada. — 

New England. — New England Agricultural Society, Hon. George B. 
Loring, Salem, Massachusetts ; Hon. Daniel Needham, Grotou, Massa- 
chusetts. 

Neio HampsJiire.Stata Agricultural Society, General Natt Head, 
president, Hookset; Aaron luoung, secretary, Portsmouth; Governor 
Fred. Smyth, Manchester ; P. W. Jones, Amherst; State Agricultural 
College, Virgil C. Oilman, Nashua; George W. Eiddlc, Manchester. 

Ne2o tfcrsei/.— State Agricultural College, Governor Tho. F. Eandolph, 
Morristown; General N. N. Halsted, Newark; Hon. Amos Clark, jr., 
Elizabeth ; Professor George F. Cook, New Brunswick. 

Neio Yorl:— State Agricultural Society, Hon. Lewis F. Allen, Bufialo; 
E. W. Stewart, Buffalo; Cornell University, Ezra Cornell, Ithaca; Pro- 
fessor Albert N. Prentiss, Ithaca ; Professor H. McCandiess, Ithaca ; 
Queen's County Society, John A. King, Great Neck, Long Island. . 

North Carolina.— State Agricultural Society, J. B. Bridges, Tarbor- 
ough; W. J. Yates, Charlotte; J. P. Houstou, Charlotte ;- State Agricul- 
tural Association, Hon. J. C. Harper, Le Noir; N. W. Woodtin, AshviUe. 
0/h*o.— State Agricultural Society, John H. Klippart, secretary; 
Columbus, William B. Mellung; State Horticultural Society, Nicholas 



28 NATIONAL AGRICULTUEAL CONVENTION. 

Ohmer, vice-presideut, Daytou; North Oliio Fair Association, John A. 
Warder, president, Cincinnati ; J. I'. Eobisoji, Cleveland. 

Oregon. — 

Feniisylvania. — State Agricultural Society, A. Boyd Hamilton, Har- 
risburgh ; William S. Bissell, Pittsburgh ; State Horticultural Society, 
James E. Mitchell, Philadelphia, John S. Haines, Germautown ; State 
Agricultural College, Eev. James Calder, president, Bellefont; H. N, 
McAllister; Philadelphia County Society, David Landreth, Philadel- 
phia; Captain John Brees, Wyoming ; Dr. Charles E. King, Andalusia; 
Pennsylvania Agricultural College, Professor John Hamilton ; Penn- 
sylvania Fruit Growing Society, Josiah Hoopes, president, West Ches- 
ter^ Dr. Franklin Taylor, West Chester. 

Kliode Island. — State Horticultural Society, Dr. William F. Channing, 
Providence: Colonel Dexter; Society for the Encouragement of Domestic 
Industry, Hon. William E. Sprague, president, Providence ; George F. 
Wilson, East Providence; Brown University, Professor George F. 
Chase. 

South Carolina. — State Agricultural Society, General Wade Hampton, 
Columbia ; D. H. Aikin, secretary, Cokesburgh. 

Tennessee. — State Horticultural Society, Hon. Horace Maynard; East 
Tennessee University, Professor W. O. Atwater, Knoxville; Professor 
Hunter Nicholson, Knoxville; State Board of Agriculture and Mechan- 
ical Association, J. B. Killebreu, A. B. Robertson, Nashville. 

Texas. — State Agricultural, Mechanical, and Blood Stock Association, 
Hou. John Hancock, Thomas G. Williams, San Antonio, William J. 
Hutchins. 

Vermont. — State Agricultural Society, Hon. Crosby Miller, Pomfret; 
Henry Claris, secretary, Eutland ; State Agricultural College, Hon. Jus- 
tin S. Morrill, Staflbrd ; Hon. Worthington C. Smith, Saint Albans ; State 
Board of Agriculture, Mining, and Statistics, N. B. Saflbrd, White Eiver 
Junction; Professor Peter Collier, Burlington ; Dairymen's Association, 
O. S. Bliss. 

Virginia. — State Agiicultural Society, Lewis E. Harris, Eichmond ; 
Thomas Brau*ch, Eichmend; State Horticultural and Poraological Soci- 
■ ety, Franklin Davis, Dr. J. G. Beattie, Ricbraond; State University, 
Professor J. W. Mallett, Charlottetown ; Norfolk Horticultural and Po- 
mological Society, General E. L. Page, Norfolk; Fairfax Farmers' Ckib, 
Henry E. Alvord, Lewensville. 

_ West Virginia. — State University, Eev. Alex. Martin, president, 
Wheeling. 

Wisconsin.— ^i^tQ University, J. H. Twombly, president, Madison; 
Hon. G. W. Hazeltou, Cohimbus. 

District of Colwnbia. — Potomac Fruit Growers' Association, Joseph 
E. Suodgrass, Washington; Challdey Gillingham, Washington ; E. H. 
Chambetlain, Washington; J. H. King, Washington; F. D. Curtis, 
Washington ; P. H. Folsom. 

Montana. — T. C. Evarts, Helena. 

Dakota. — George N. Propper, Yankton. 

Utah. — Deseret Agricultural and Manufacturing Society, James Me 
Knight, Salt Lake City. 



NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION. ^9 

FKIDAY, SECOND DAY. 
MORNING- SESSION. 

Tlie couveutiou assembled at 10 o'clock a. lu. 

The President. Gentlemen, if you ^11 come to oixler we will pro- 
ceed to business. The first business will be the reading- of the rej)ort 
of the proceedings of yesterday by the secretary. 

The secretary commenced to read the proceedings, beginning with a 
list of the delegates. 

The President. I notice that some names were omitted. Any gen- 
<"leman whose name is miscalled, or society not alluded to, will please 
to respond as the secretary goes on. ^ I desire that the names of the 
d.elegates be right, the names of their post-offices, and the societies 
they represent. I do not want tliis thing to sink into oblivion. I may 
\Aaut to correspond with some of you, and if I address you Georgia, 
and you Yisa. in Florida, it Avill not reach you. 

Mr. Barnett. In the State society of Georgia, in which there were 
tbur or five hundred men, we were furnished with an accurate report. 
The chairman of each delegation wrote the name and post-office address, 
and furnished the clerk with it, and the convention in the meanwhile 
was attending to its proper duties. I would suggest that the chairman 
of eiich Sta-te or soeiet}^ delegation furnish the clerk with a full list, 
properly spelled and the post-office address, and this body be allowed 
to proceed. 

Carried. 

Governor Smyth. I move that the reading of the record be dis- 
pensed with, and be prepared and read vsome time when it is in order. 

Carried. 

The President. The first business in order this morning is the re- 
liprt of the committee on the equalization of land-grants. 

invitation to president grant. 

Governor Smyth. I desire to offer a resolution, Avith the consent of 
the convention. 

Bcsolvcd, That Presideut Graut be cordially iuvited to Louor this couveutiou by his 
))reseuoe at such time duriug its deliberations as shall suit his couTeniouce ; aud that 
the jjresiding officer, with such of the couveutiou as hu may joiu, be a committee to 
preseut this iuvitatiou to the Presideut. 

Adopted. 

I now move that a committee of five be appointed to wait upon the 
President, including the i)resident of the convention. 

Carried. 

The President. The chair will appoint on that committee Governor 
Frederick Smyth, of New Hampshire; Governor Patten, of Alabama; 
Hon. A. S. Welch, of Iowa; A. Stout, of Michigan; Dr.Loring, of Massa- 
chusetts. 

Mr. Wheeler. It seems to me that the first order of business Avili be 
the reports of the committees. 

The President. There is a special order. 

Mr. Wheeler. That is true, but should not the standing committee 
make their reports'? 

Mr. HAinLTON. I move to postpone the regular order. Tiie purport 
of what I intend to offer I will state. It is that this convention take a 



30 NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION. 

recefcs betweeu Lalf after 1 o'clock and 3 o'clock, and tlieu come back and 
«it it out. I canuot offer sucli a resolution without tire orders of the 
day are suspended wliile I do so. 

Carried. 

Mr. Hamilton. I move that this convention take a recess from half 
lifter 1 o'clock until 3 o'clock, and then re-assemble. 

The motion was a.o^reed to — 47 to 30. 

The Peesident. The report of the, committee on the equalization of 
land-grants is ]io\r in order; President Fohrell, of Minnesota, lias the 
floor. 

Mr. Hamilton. Have no(, rules of order been adopted ? I would like 
for eacli member to speak no longer than ten minutes. 

Commissioner Watts. In the report of the business committee this 
uioruing we recommended to tlio convention that i^ie speeches shall be 
limited to ten minutes, but our report has not yet been received, and I 
think it ought to be l^efore even the special report is taken up. 

Mr. Likes. I move that the report on tlie equalization of laud-grants 
be laid upon the table for the purpose of henring the report of the., 
business committee. 

Carried, 

REPORT OP THE BUSINESS CO:vmiTTEE. 

Commissioner Watts. I am instructed by the business committee to 
rex3ort the following resolutions : 

1st. The committer ircoinnioTiil (hni .ill .^jiceeho.-; in.ado liofoic the couveutiou Ibe 
limited to ten minutes. 

2cl. The cninmittoe rceftmmcnd thiit a commitioe of Jivo ])e .ippointod to report on 
tbo best niothods of prosei'viusj tlin tinibor of tlie country, especially the. timber of tlio 
Rocky Mountains .nud tlio central iir.nirie regions of tlio republic. 

3d. Ursolredf That this convention ■would especially leeommend the csiablishment of 
dcpartiucutsof a<:(ricn1tnro in the States of the T^nion in wliieli such departments do 
uot already exist. 

ScsoJvcd, That the eouTentlou be rcf[ncsted to appoint aconmuLtee of five, whose duty 
ifc shall be to visit, the Committees of Agriculture of both Houses of Congress and^, 
request them to increase the amount of appropriatious I'or {lie distribntion of publica- 
tions and seeds by the Department. 

The committee ask leave to sit again. 

Mr. Wheeler. I make a motion that ihecommit^tee have leave to sit 
again. 

Agreed to, 

^Mr. Lines. 1 move to add one provisjou lu reference lo u, '' but that 
no person shall be allowed to speak more than once until all others ha\-e 
had an opportunity who may desire, [" No, no."J 

Mr. FoLWELii. i would move that the report of the business com- 
mittee be taken up in order, as the fifth iopic, at the pleasure of the 
convention. 

Mr, SwALLirw. i should oltjeet to the proposition oji this ground: It 
is important that those committees should be appointed, if wo appoint 
them at all, immediately, 

Mr. Allen, of ]!»k^.w York, 1 object to this proposition. We have uot 
adopted this ten-minute rule, and here these committees will take up an 
hour. We want to put a stopper on that. [Laughter,] 

The President. I consider it important that thft reports of the com- 
mittees should be as accurate and full and elaborate as possible 5 and > 
the chair would suggest to the convention that they should bo willing 
to hear the reports of the committees ijatiently, because I ascertained 
myself, yesterday, that there is a determination to discuss certain im- 



NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION. 3t 

pui'tant (luestious relating to agriculture aucl agiicultui-a! educatiou, 
wbicli ought to go carefully and elaborc-tely presented liel'ore this 
eouu try. And wliile the cliair would join the convention heartily in coniin- 
ingtlie speeches toteuminuteB, he would be very sorry to seethe reports 
of the committees curtailed by the same rule. The question is upon the 
niotion of President Folwell, that the report of the business committee 
•lie upon the table until the reports of the committees, in the order as 
appointed, shall be heard. 

3Ir. Ali.ef, of New Yorlv. I have no objection to the reports, if it takes 
an hour to read them, Imt I have objections to men speaking an hour on 
each of them. These long speeches don't amount to much generally. 
[Laughter.] 

Mr. Folwell. The business committee present to us certain opinions. 
I simply object to the adoption of the opinions of the committees. It is 
our duty to present topics not opinions. But I withdraw my motio'n, 
and move the report of the committee on business bo accepted. 

The President. The question is upon the acceptance of the report. 

Carried. 

Mr. Lines. I move that we talce it up section by. section. 

Agreed to. 

The President. Section 1st is : 

The committop rpoonimond that all speeches made before the coiiveutiou Ijc limited 
to tcu minutes. 

Mr. Lines. I move to add ''and that no person be allowed to speak 
more than once on the same subject without general consent." 
The President. Which means without a vote of tlie convention. 
Adopted. 
The President, The 2d section is : 

The committeo recommend tliat a committee of fito be appointed to rcpoifc on the 
best method of i^reservhig the timber of the conntry, csjiecially th-o timber of tho 
Rocky Mountains and the centr.n.l prairie regions of the republic. 

Mr. Swallow. Upon this I wish to add an amendment ; it is simply 
to report to the Commissioner of Agriculture : 

Eesolvcd, That a committee of five bo .appointed to rcpori. to the Commissioner of 
Agriculture on the liest motliodof preserving tho timber of the country, especially the 
timber of the Eoclcy i^Ionntains and tlie eentral prairie regions of the repu))lic. 

Carried. 

The President. Tho 3d section reads : 

licsolced, That this convention would rcspoctfully rocomniend tho establishment of 
dojjartments of agriculture in the States'of tho Union 'in which such depaj'tmeutu do 
not already exist. 

Mr. Welch. 1 move an amendment to that resolution that where 
" department" occurs be substituted " State boards." 

Mr. Taylor. I prefer the word " departments." 

The President. Gentlemen, the official designation is '' Jitate Boards 
01 Agriculture." That name has become historic. It was the lirst or- 
ganized body of men in any country made up for the purpose of devel- 
oping the agricultural industry of tlie country. Established in Eng- 
landin early days, and which brought out Sir Humphrey Davy. And 
the same thing' has been done by the distinguished gentleman from 
Massachusetts, who sits before me. 

The amendment was accepted. 

ilr. Lines. I move to amend by adding " to be organized by the 
legislature of said States." 

Lost. 



32 NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION. 

MECHANIC ARTS. 

JMi-. FoLWELL. I move to add '•= State Boards of Agnculturc aud Me- 
chanic Arts." It will not do for us iu Miuuesata to ignore the mechanic 
arts." 

Commissioner WATTS. I hope that will not be adopted ; it will com- 
plicate matters too much. 

Mr. Wilder. Mr. President, you have had the kindness to allude to mc 
as having had some experience in this matter. I agree with you entirely, 
sir, tkat the tenn has become not only historical, but i]i the States where 
there are boards, it has become almost a household word. I a^i in favor 
of the caption of " State Boards of Agriculture. Of course, they will 
be organized and incorporated as ours is by a Sti»te law. 

But, sir, I arose merely to say, iu answer to the suggestion of our 
friend from the South, who sits close by, that " he cannot establish such 
a State board in Arkansas or Alabama;" that hcnnist wait until he can, 
and we will help him all We can. [Applause.] Then again, sir, the cir- 
cuijistances under which we exist are not alike. Our respected aud 
able friend desires to have " mechanics" added. Wo could not agree to 
that iu Massachusetts. If I had the time 1 -would tell you why our 
State Agricultural College relinquished t?he study of mechanics, and 
passed ft over to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 

Mr. Lewis^. I am opposetl to the resolution. Perhaps it v/ould be 
proper on this occasion to ask what is the call that has convened this 
convention ; who are we, and what are we, and who arc our constitu- 
ents '? Now, this convention has been called, not by a commissioner of 
mechanic arts, or of common schools, or j^eneral education, but by the 
Commissioner of Agriculture. So it woiud seem from that, that agri- 
culture would be the proper matter for consideration on this occasion. 

And again, Avho are we as delegates, and w^hom do we represent ; 
whom do you represent, Mr. Chairman, aud all of us represent ? Wc 
represent agricultural societies in some form or other. Aud vvdiile I 
would not w ith the gentleman ignore the mechanic arts, er any othej.' ,of 
the great brandies of industry and education, 1 submit, Mr. Chairman, 
that it Is not a subject-matter ibr discussion on this occasion. 

The President. The question is on tlie insertion of '• mechanic 
arts." 

Mr. FoL^VELL. I am here as the representative of the Agricultural 
Society and University of Minnesota. It Avould not do for me to go 
home and ignore this fact. Ours is to be, before many years, one of the 
greatest manufacturing communities, not only in this conntr5^, but in 
the world. At the same time I do not ayIsIi to throw anything iu the 
way of our friends who are interested in agriculture. Not at all. But 
I am able to say here that, if any institutions in this countiy undertake 
to ignore these claims, they will find themselves before many years 
compelled to give instruction in the mechanic arts. But I Avithdraw my 
amendment. 

Mr. Lines. We have succeeded. Now avc feel that we are on a i)erma- 
neut basis to go on and do our work more elfectually than before. 

Governor Patten. I regetted to notice that our friend from Minne- 
sota withdrew his x>roposed amendment. Almost all the agricultural 
associations iu the South contemplate manufacturing as well as agricul- 
ture. We of the South do not claim to be advanced in manufactures 
like you of the North and East, but we Avould much pu'efer-to have this 
amendment adopted ; and I am disposed to renew the amendment i)ro- 
posed by the gentleman from Minnesota. 



NATIONAL AGRICULTUKAL CONVENTION, 3o 

I look forward Avith iio little interest to the State which 1 have the 
honor to represent on this floor, when not only agriculture will be a 
source of strength, but, sii", we look forward with pleasing anticipation 
when manufacturing will become very prominent in the South. We are 
alive on the subject. In a little while, sir, v,e will have occasion for an 
association bearing the title of manufactures as well as of agTiculture. 
Sir, it is not proper for me to extend these remarks on this subject, but 
I venture to renew the amendment proposed by the gentleman from 
Minnesota, and say "agricultural and manufacturing associations." 

The Peesident. The question i« on the amendment of Governor 
Pattou, that the words " manufacturing and mechanic arts," be added. 

Mr. Taylor. I beg leave to give the reason why agriculture was 
used. Last year when we asked our legislature to pass an act creating 
a department of " mechanic arts," they declined to do it on the ground 
that thej^ did not understand making such a complicated department. 
Of course we are all aimiug at the same purpose, and this department 
of agriculture is essential to all the States 5 that of mechanic arts we 
really needed in Pennsylvania, though it is not needed in some States. 

Mr. Allen, of New York. Let me suggest that we divide this ques- 
tion. Let us consider agriculture first and mining afterward. 

The President. The question is upon the resolution as it now stands, 

Mr. Allen, of Connecticut. It seems to me, Mr. President, we are 
consuming more time on this ruatfer than is worth while. 

The President. I think so too. [Laughter.] 

Mr. Allen, of Connecticut. Each State must settle this matter for 
itself. Each State has a peculiar agricultural system of its own. We 
have in Connecticut a system which does not require it. If the State 
Board of Agriculture is to be organized by legislative action, each Stat© 
must settle that question for itself. If it desires to connect mechanic 
arts with it, it can do so. I think the broad term of agriculture is suiii- 
cient, and leave the viimiilK for each State to settle. 

The President. It is impossible for the chair to divide the question. 

Mr. Fielder. Each local State government must decide the ques- 
tion for itself, and so shape its boards as to clothe all the interests. I 
suggest the name of "Industrial Boards." ["No, no."] 

Mr. Nicholson. I would like to ask my friend from Alabama [Gov- 
eruor Patton] to withdraw his amendment, with the assurance that the 
object which he has in view will be presented in a shape that will satisfy 
him coming from the business committee. He and I have the same 
object in view. 

The President. The question is upon the amendment offered by 
Governor Patton. 

Lost nearly unanimously. 

Mr.. Clark. If I remember right, the last clause was rejected. 

The President. The ch^r is in doubt. 

Mr. Denison. It seems to me that the last clause is superfluous. 

Mr. Lines. We have had a State agricultural society without the 
State having anything to do vrith it. 

The President. The question is on the amendment of Mr. Lines, of 
Kansas, " to be established by the legislatures of said States." The 
Chair is in doubt whether this was agreed to or not. 

The amendment was agreed to, and the resolution adopted. 

Mr. Clark, of Vermont. I move that General S. K. Page be admitted 
on his credentials. 

Agreed to. ^ 

S. Mis. LG4. 3 



34 NATIONAL AGRIOULTUKAI. CONVENTION. 

Mr. BejnijisON. X would add the iiajue of Dr. John A. Warder ay. one 
of the inemberts of that committee. 
Agreed to. 
The President. The Ith tieciiou reads : 

Resolved, That tlio couvcatiou bo rctxuostccl to appoiut n cojuinitt'oe .of ii\ c, Tiiio&fi 
<iuty ittsliull bo to visit tho committees of agiiculturo of both Honsoti of Con.£:i"o».s, ond 
ref^uest thorn to iiicreano tba JWJiouKt of uiipropriations for tho distribution of publica- 
tions :md seeds bj' tho Deirurtment. 

.Vdopted. 

The PiiiysiDENT. That finishes the report of the biusiuess committee. 

LAND'GIIANT.S. 

Mr. FoLVv'DLL. iu behalf of the special committee of hvc, to vrhom 
-was referred the equalization of Uwid-grants, I would any that this com- 
mittee has bad the matter under consideration, and tliat they are pre- 
pared Avith a biief report. I will lead it : ' 

Whorc'iM tho lamls devoted bj^ the act of C'ougress, approved 3 uiy 2, 16G2, for the ondow- 
ment, support, and maiuteuuuce of at least ouo mlkr/e Avhere tholeadiug object bhall be, 
without cxcludiug other scieutific aud olasaical studies, and iucludiug military tactics, 
to teach such branches of learuiug as are related to agriculture aud tho mechanic arts 
in such maimer as tho legislatures of the Htates may respectively prejicribe ; that is to 
say, devoted generally to tho liberal, aud then in i;artieu]ar to the priictical, education 
of tho i]idustrial classes in the several pursnils aud professions of life j aud 

Whereas the endoAvmeuts resulting from this grant will be, iu every ease, iusuflicieut 
for tlic supjjort of a reputable college of eojiipreheusive character ; and 

Wherwas the apportionment of the lauds on the variable basis of reproseutatiou 
alont^ according to whioh eleven ii^ates and Territories received nothing, and many 
largo Statei^, capable of supporting a population of millions, received less than Bomo 
small States ; and 

Whereas subsetxuent legislation required luany of the States to accent laud-scrip of 
doubtful value instead of the lands themselves donated in tho original act of eudow- 
ment : Therefore, 

licsoh-cd, That Congress bo respectfully asked by tliis body to remedy both tho iii- 
equal^Hy aud iusufliciency of tho endowments of tho act of 1862 by grantiug additional 
landsln such quantities that no State shall receive less than one million of acres, 
whioh juay Ijo selected aud located according to tho pleasure of the grauters. 

Beaolrtd, That the additional endowments so granted should i)i all cases fall to tjiose 
iustitntious akeady established under the provisions ot" the act of 18G2, or which may 
hereafter bo established in pui-auance of tho same. 

S'csohxd, That a committfo of one fjom each State here represented be constituted 
to bring the stibject of these resolutions to the attention of Congress. 

^VLLLIAM W. FOLWELL, 

Of Minntsoia, Chairnuut. 
T. C. ABISOTT, 

OfjJkMaun. 
J. B. BOWM.VN, 

OfMutucky. 
HEKBEKT FIELDEK, 

Of Georffia. 
V- C. GILMAN, 
• Of Connvdimf- 

The resolution offered by Ish: Fielder, of Georgia, aud v.hich was re- 
ferred to this committee, has been considered. 

The committee hud that the legislature of the State of Georgia ac- 
cepted the land-grant in the year 18C(>, but that, before the recfiiirements 
of Congress could be carried into effect, the State government was set 
aside, under the authority of the United States ; that the State gov- 
ernment estabhshed in lieu thereof, uuder the acts of Congress, neg- 
lected to t;<im])ly with the provisions of the act of Congress by the es- 
tablitshmcut of mi jmricidtural college within live years from the time 



NATIONAIi AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION. 35 

of the acceptance of the graut by the legislature of iSGG, iiudtbaL thtj 
name is thereby forfeited. 

It lias also been made known to tbe committee tbat the States of 
Alabama and Mississippi, ami perhaps other States, are in like condi- 
tion, and that all of some States fire anxious to avail themselves of the 
bounty of the Government for Mie promotion of industrial Jind agricid- 
tural education. The committee recommend the following resolution : 

Iiesolvcd, That this convention, in vio-st of circumstances umler which the States 
of Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi have forfeited thefr claims to tho grant of lands 
l)y Congress under the act of Cougresa of 1862, respectfully petition tho Congress of 
the United States to relieve ^nch States, and all others that may bo in like condition, 
from the forfeiture of tbeir respective claims, and to extent the timo within which 
said States may proceed to organize and put iu actual operation agricultural schools, 
as required by said act of Congress. 

Mr. Welch. I should like to inquire whether the million acres men- 
tioned is to include the acres already received, or whether it is to be 
additional I 

Mr. FoLWELL. Tlac committee hope it -will be additional. 

Mr. Allen, of ^ew York. I would ask whether the committee prO' 
pose ajiy conditions to this grant '? 

Mr. FoLWELL. The committee preferred to leave that matter to OoU' 
gress. 

Mr. Allen, of IS^ev/ York. Well, I believe Congress ought to impose 
some conditions. ^ 

Mr. FoLV/ELL. So do I. 

Mr. Edmunds. It seems to me that this matter is not now iu order to 
be discussed. 

The Peesident. The question is on the acceptance of the report. . 

Mr. Allen, of New York. This committee should be authorized to 
make some kind of terms upon which this grant is to be made. If it 
is to be done in this loose manner I think it would be very much labor 
lost. 

Mr. FoLWELL. The committee did not wish to tie the matter up tech- 
nically, but to leave it open to the convention. 

The Peesident. The question is on the motion to accept the report 
of the committee. 

Mr. Klippaet. I have been over this morning and spent some time 
with the Secretary of the Interior, and have had a long talk with him 
about the lauds, where they are, and what they amount to, and— — 

Mr. Lines. Mr. President, is not this out of order ? 

Tho President. The question is on the motion to accept the report 
of.the committee, and the chair does not understand that the question 
is not debatable. 

Mr. Lines. But the merits of the particular matter in the report is 
not before us. 

The President. The chair will allow auy reasonable debate under 
the teii-miuute rule. 

The report of the committee was accepted. 

Mr. TwoMBLT. I move that the report be adopted. 

Mr. Bo^^TMAN. I move to amend that motion by taking it up iu sec- 
tions, the Second section first. There are two prominent features 
]H^eseuted. 

x\greed to ; and the section adopted. 

Mr. BomiAN. I now move to take up the other section. 

Agreed to. 

Mr. TW03I15LY. 1 move tho adoption of the first preamble and reso- 
hition. 



36 NATIONAL AGRICULTUEAI/ CONVENTION. 

Mr. B0W3IAN. My motion covered the wliole grouud. 

Mr. Martin, I move to add: " In said equalization regard bo had for 
the kind and amount of land already received for various educational 
purposes by the several States." 

Mr. KlippA-KT. The inequality claimed in the distribution of the 
])ublic lands by the act of July, 1862, is more apparent than real. The 
States which had ho public lands in their own territory could not locate 
the scrip m any other State, and so were driven into market with the 
scrip, and were obliged to sell the scrip for whatever they could get. 
Uufortunately, at the time the scrip was issued there was a very favor- 
able prospect ibr devoting the public lands for bounty warrants, and if 
the laud had been so devoted the college scrip would have been practi- 
cally unsalable. 

Such States as Kansas, Kebraska, and others having quantities of 
public lauds, could locate and hold the lands, and sell them for $5, $8, 
and $10 per acre. Kansas, for example, received scrip for 90,000 acres 
of laud. This she located within her own territory and held it. One- 
half she sold for $5 apiece, giving her $325,000 ; and for the remaining 
half she can to-day realize $450,000, making an aggregate of nearly 
^700,000 ; whilst Ohio received scrip for 030,000, for which she realized 
$342,000, or about half that Kansas does. I believe I speak the senti- 
ment of all the States which have no public lands when I say that, if 
any further aid is solicited from Congress, we prefer to receive our 
quota in'money. In a conversation this morning with the Secretary of 
the Interior, he was fully of the opinion that an ebdowmeut of public 
lauds to the older States was the most extravagant kind of endowment — 
that the General Government lost more than the individual State gained 
by such donation. 

For myself, and I speak for myself only, I have this suggestion to 
make to the convention, viz: Let us petition Congress to divide the 
proceeds of the i)ubiic lands upon some equitable basis among the sev- 
eral States, to be held as a sacred trust by the States for the purposes 
of education ; that a i)roper proportion of this fund be set aside for the 
use of these agricultural and mechanical colleges, the fund to be dis- 
tributed in a manner somewhat similar to that in which the famous 
"surplus revenue" was distributed in General Jackson's time. 

L. F. Allen, of IS^ew York. What if the States repudiate it? 

Mr. Klippakt. Well, repudiation is a weakness of human nature 
which we, of course, cannot remedy, and must abide the consequences. 

Mr. xVllen, of JS'ew York. Ohio might have located land in the 
Western States. 

Mr. KxiPPAET. No ; I tell the gentleman Ave in Ohio could u,ot t-Ske 
the scrip and as a State locate lands in some other State. We consulted 
the highest and best authorities in the Union, and found the door effect- 
ually barred against any such proceeding. 

A Member. Ohio might have done as New Y'ork did. - 

Mr. Klippart. Gentlemen, I am proud to acknowledge that New 
Y'ork boasts of such a man as Ezra Cornell, but I assure gentlemen that 
there are not half a dozen such men in the Union. 

I know that it was suggested that this scrip might have been placed 
in the hands of responsible parties to locate in their name to the benefit 
of the State ; but Ohio would not do indirectly that which she could not 
legally do directly. 

At the recjuest of several gentlemen I therefore have the honor, Mr. 
Chaii'man, of ofleriug the following amendment to the amendment, viz: 

Besolveil, That Congrcba be requested to divide the proceeds arising from *lio sale of 



NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION. 37 

public lands upon solfio equitable basis^ taking the, value of a million of acres as the 
basis for an average State, as a further cndowineut for the agricultural and mechanical 
colleges throughout the several States of the Union. 

Mr. Welch, of Iowa. One statement I desire to make in answer to 
the gentleman from Oiiio is, that if we ask for money we simply will not 
get it. ["That is so."] There is a large surplus of laud to be disposed 
of, which will be the prey of land speculators if it does not go into the 
hands of the educators to aid in educational purposes. 

Now, the gentleman tells us that there is no real hardship; that there 
is no real inequality in the division of these lands to the several States. 
As an answer to that 1 will say that in my own State, the State of Iowa, 
when the agricultural college was established it was established upon 
the basis of representation, consisting of eight members. The lands to 
be donated to the States weue, therefore, 240,000 ncres, of which we got 
about 207,000 acres. Now, our population at that time was large enough 
to give us two members more, and therefore at the very time, before the 
fruits of the college were at all available, at that very time we ought to 
hq.ve had 60,000. acres more than we received. At the same time, sir, 
some of the Eastern States — I do not wish any of those States to lose 
any of their lands; I am very glad to hear that they will get more, not 
less, and while more would be liberality to them, to us it would be but 
justice — at the very time that they got the land their population did not 
get it, whereas our population justified getting thirty or sixty thousand 
acres more. I say not that the Eastern States are diminishing in pop- 
ulation, but that the Western States are increasing in n, much larger 
ratio. 

Now, ns to another fact, I will nay that there is no remedy under 
heaven for the difference in the results of this appropriation to different 
States. New York is very fortunate in having a Cornell. The Western 
States have been very fortunate in having men that are thoughtful, and 
the consequence is — I cannot quite appreciate the remark made by the 
gentleman from Buffalo, Mr. Allen — that there has been a great deal 
of this property squandered, for I do not know where there is one State 
in the West where this land has been squandered. Iowa has taken the 
precaution to lease her land, and to-day realizes $30,000 a year, but this 
is not at all equal to the demand of industrial education. The demands 
of these institutions are very urgent. The fruits of the institutions 
oannot be realized in a day ; they are the results of long years of patient 
and earnest toil. We may start the schools, but when they come to have 
their maturity we .shall want imperatively a much larger sum than these 
lands will gi^e. I am in favor of a million acres extra to each State, if 
we can get it, as a matter of liberality to the Eastern States, and as a 
matter of Justice to the Western States. 

Mr. Bowman. I shall detain the convention but a few minutes, sir. I 
simply wish to state, as a member of the committee, that we found this 
very question as presented rather a delicate one to manage. I suggested 
myself in the committee that while these inequalities exist under the 
act of 1862, we ought to let by-gones be by-gones, and that we come up 
and ask Congress to give us a uniform amount of land, say not less than, 
a million acres. That was my suggestion. It does not matter to me 
whether New York got so much or Iowa got so little. The question is, 
how much of these public lands is necessary to make these colleges a 
success, and the success of each ought to be the joy of every man of this 
convention. 

Next let us fix upon a uniform sum, at least one million acres: I would 
say, sir, not less than five " millions, if you look at the vast domain of 



38 NATIONAL AGRICtTT.TUIlAL CONVENTION. 

tills counlry that is givoii nwny to piivnto coi'porai«ins and lings, II' 
we present it as a, simple amendmeut to Mr. Hoar's bill now pending in 
Congress, I believe Congress will pass it. I fear that the discussion 
^^•hicll.]las come up now with reference to tliis question of equalization 
will embarrass tJiis convention and Congress, and perhaps we will not 
get anything. 

Now, if Congress, in its libenUity. will gi\'e one railroatl corporation 
fifty millions of acres of the public domain, why could she not give the 
sum of one million acres each to thirty-eight States, which would lay a 
]>ermanent basis for theii* colleges. 

My State, Kentucky, was one of the unfortunate States. We hnd no 
public lands. We received 330,000 acres in scrip. We did not know 
what to do with the land-scrip, and the proposition went begging for 
two years, failing to receive anything like a fair consideration fo;- oltl- 
laiuhgrant. It was sold for fifty cents an acre, on a depressed market, 
the best that could be done at the time, and we have today only the 
pittance of $9,000, the entire proceeds of the scrip, and only enough to 
support four professors. The only way in which we have achieved our 
success was by appealing to private citizens, I have been enabled to 
secure more than a half million dollars in that way, and to x)ut the insti- 
tution into practical and successful operation in that way. In prndical 
matters I claim to be a farmer, and only a farmer, and as such I come 
here as one to demand respectfully and courteously of the Government 
of the United States that the great interests of agriculture shall be 
placed before the country on their proper basis. I want it, sir, as a pro- 
li?ssion to be exalted to its proper dignity ; and while Congress is giv- 
ing away millions to private corporations, I say the time has come tvhen 
\ve should have a fair representation in the distribution of the public 
lands for the cause of industrial education. I have no special objection 
to the bill which is now before Congress, except that it is too general ) it 
ought to be more specific. I hope therefore that the resolution will be 
adojited. 

Mr. Lines. Mr. President, I desire to say a few words as a representa- 
tive of the farming community. I came hero supposing that this con- 
vention was called for the purpose of promoting the agricultural inter- 
ests of the country and such educational institutions as are connected 
v.ith the agricultural development of the country. 1 am myself entirely 
opposed to asking the Government to give us any more lands; I am also 
opposed to asking them to give us money to endow any kind of institu- 
tions in the country, without exiiressing what those institutions shall 
be, because if we are here representing the agricultural interests of tlie 
country, and seeking aid from the Government to endow and improve a 
certain class of institutions of learning, it seems to me that we should 
provide that those institutions should be restricted. 

I am opposed to the further grant of lauds to any extent, for the rea- 
son that I think the lauds should be held, what there is left, for the 
actual settler. I represent a section of country where we are C( ...ing 
in contact with persons without means who want some land to setuc on. 
I will submit two resolutions as a sub'stitute for the resolutioti notr 
pending. 

liefiohrd, Tliat vce rccommeud, in all lutiirc appropriations by ilio (ioneral Govorn 
incnt in aid of agricultural colleges or industrial schools, special provision be made 
(hat the paramount object of such institntionft shall be to give itistrnctiou in those 
brauelies of science that are inseparably connected with agriculture, horticulture, irie- 
•clianic arts, inventive pursuits, and military tactics, and in the practical illustration 
and develojjment of these several industries.'literary culture being only so far pursued 
a3 uiciy ije found necessary in t!ie complete accomplislnnerit of the objects specitieil. 



NATIONAL AaRTCULTHRAL CONVENTION. 39 

Rrsnlrcd, Tliat in askiiift- furtlier aid from llio Cionoial Govornincnli for (lie promotion 
of Iho o.dnnation of the people in tho practical industries, that mnat over remain tlio 
b:5sis of our greatness and poAvcr as a nation, wo cannot advise tho donating of lands 
to bo held and disposed of by these institutions at advanced prices, thereby depriving 
niillions of our own landless fellow-citizens, and luillioas more from the over-popnlated 
cities of tho old world, lleeiug thither for their own relief and to help us in developino; 
our vast resources, from availing themselves of the beneficent provisions of existing 
laws now and in the future, as others have done in tho past, but, on the contrary, let 
all that remains of this vast area bo kept open for occupation by actual settlers, iiader 
existing conditions of settlement, except so far as appropriations can bo Vi'isely made 
to aid in constructing national highways to render tlie lands accessible and av3,ilable, 
giving to the institution under consideration a fair and adequate proportion of the net 
proceeds in money that may be realized by the Goverunieiit in the disposition of th^ 
lands under the laws as thej'' now exist. 

Mr. ALLEN, of New York. I do not wish to take up miioli of the time 
of the convention, but it appears to me that this is a radical up&ettinft- 
of tlie whole thing-. [Laughter.] If we are to resolve the United States 
into a benevolent institution, we have got to take care of all the paupers, 
thieves, and poor devils in the world. [Laughter.] For instance, hero a' 
man goes and for ten or fifteen dollars locates a section or ;i qusirter of 
a section, and by the very fact of lying' down and sleeping upon it he 
becomes the possessor, and another man comes along in a few months 
and buys it from him and he makes several hundred dollars. Ajid .<^,omo 
men go out West with large families, and getting a large amount of land 
by reason of having several grown boys, each one of whom can <mter a 
certain amount, they sell it in a few months and make several hundred 
dollars in tlie operation. The public lands are actually squandered in 
juRt that way. Now, if these institutions iiave got gumption onoiigh — It 
Is a homely word, but you all know what it means ["Yes, yes;'' " it if; a 
good word"'] — they will keep the land; if they have not, they ought to 
be fooled. 

Mr. Cornell bought scrip ; he went an<l located the most of these 
lands himself in the pineries of Yv^isconsin, where that pine land is 
Worth ten dollars an acre ; and Cornell University in a few years will 
have a. fund of fiye or six hundred thousand dollars. Therefore the 
idea that we should eijualixe; that is to say, that those Btates that ha^^ 
not made anytiring by selling their land at half price, liJce Ohio, for in- 
stance, as Mv. Iviippart has just told us, should have any inore than 
Iowa, is perfectly fajlacious. The man that had the ton talents was a 
good one, but the one that squandered his ten talents— let him go. 
[Laughter.] 

I am for the adoption of that report in the main that vras made by 
Mr. Folwell. I propose that we should have a (air distribution accord- 
ing to population instead of area. I think that these States Vi'hich 
are increasing pretty rapidly should have a fair show h\ this matter. 
Now, from these 630,000 acres that Ohio received she has been ai)le to 
carry some colleges free. 

In 1837, in General Jacksor.-w time, when the Treasury becarae very 
rich, they distributed the money according to representation among the 
several States. In New York we had ^, very large amount of it. I had 
the honor of a seat in the legislature at the time that that fund was ap- 
plied. It vras ar)plied to tho schools, about two-thirds of it, and the rest 
to libraries, &c." That is all vre have Imd from the V'nited States for 
the benefit of education, except the public land that has been given to 
Cornell. Our schools are absolutely free ; v,e even have a free college. 

When you have given boys a fair start in the world, let thu^m get their 
education themselves, and they v.'ill knov;- what it is worth ; learn them 
to read, write, and cipher, and let them get the rest, and tljey v\ill knoCv 



/ 



40 NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION. 

how to make iise of it. [" Give them a little farm."] O, yes, yes. But 
thou in your application, the way that it will result when you distribute 
this thing round — why three-fourths of your schoolmasters are perfect 
blockheads. [Laughter.] Half of them don't know enough to go to 
school themselves, [laughter,] and boys are sent in there to be taught 
when the teachers don't know even the elements of i)hysiolog3'. But 
you get teachers and text-books of the proper kind and the boys will 
learn something. 

When I was "a boy, brought up in New England and went to a Puri- 
tan school there in that puritanical country, every Saturday afternoon 
the minister used to come round and teach us in the Wesleyan cate- 
chism; [laughter; J but I never liked it, [laughter,]. although I am a 
Presbyterian in my faith, what little faith I have got. [Laughter.] 
And you may teach boys even what they do not like, and therefore it is 
that, under the circumstances, it is lio use to talk about a committee now 
to go to Congress for aid, because I don't believe there are three farmers 
there that are sent there b.ecause they are farmers, but because they are 
politicians, so that you have got to learn them their duties. [Laughter.] 
" Lands to the landless and homes to the homeless" — that is a very good 
idea when they are making a stump speech, but they never carry the 
idea off from the stump. [Laughter.] • 

Mr. Bridges, of North Carolina. Whenever we get up this land 
question we always get up a great commotion. Now, some gentlemen 
oppose the whole proceedings because if the land is sold and the money 
once gets into the Treasury we will not get it. There has been a good 
deal of complaining of the manner in which the land has been sold. 
And, Mr. President, I think there is a certain proposition that will be 
nearly equitable, if not entirely so. It should be a trust fund divided 
in a common manner by a common trustee, instead of converting every 
State into a separate owner, and thereby creating a great scramble to 
see who should have the better lands. Now, in place of keeping them 
as a common fund, Mr. President, to educate the homeless and landless 
as well as the rest of the rising generation, our ohject is to lay a founda- 
tion broad enough and deep enough to raise the intellectual structure 
that this people is capable of. And it seems to me, Mr. President, if 
this matter was referred to a committee, it might assume a shape so that 
we should have no scramble about these lands, and so that these insti- 
tutions being hotly pressed for money, then they would all receive it in 
regular order. 

Wliat becomes of the value of this land if it is all thrown i — the 
market at once ? We have seen. Now, here are lands of State govern- 
ments and tei'ritorial governments constantly to be located — wliy, they 
may absorb whole Territories ; and the plan I propose for it is to be 
done under a general commission of the Government, all the disposition 
of these lauds now under the Department to be under the general com- 
mission, and then there will be no rush, and they will need no looking 
after hereafter outside. And with these views I am entu^ely opposed to 
the last resolution, and entirely -in favor of the first, except in one thing. 
The question of education, why, it is a question that comes home to us 
all, and let ns get up no competition, nor drive any bargains with each 
otlier, so that every section — East, West, North, and South — can receive 
its proper support without any controversy or struggle. 

JMr. Nicholson. It seems to me that this question is as broad as the 
land itself; and if we discuss it in all its ramifications we shall be here 
till Congress adjourns. I therefore move the previous question, upon 
the ground that the matter must be digested by a committee that we 



NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION. 41 

propose to appoint, and gentlemen linviug; special views to present will 
present them before that committee, and not before the convention. 

Mr. Allen, of New York. Have we any rules that admit of the pre- 
vious question ? 

The Peesedent. Yes, sir. 

Mr. Edmunds. Let >is discuss this question now. I desire to present 
a short resolution that will settle, it seems to me, this whole question. 

The call for the previous question was lost. 

The President. The question is upon the substitute offered by Mr. 
Lines, of Kansas. 

jMr. NoRCROSS, of Georgia. I beg leave, sir, to present a resolution 
to cover the ground of the resolution now under discussion, in a simpli- 
fied form and in a form that'appears to me as practicable and indicative 
of success, as having a precedent and a principle to stand upon. I move 
this resolution to take the place of the whole resolution uiuler consid- 
eration now : 

Resolved, That Congress be, ami is hereby, memorialized by this convention to extend 
the provisions of the bill now before Congress for the appropriation of the proceeds of 
public lands to common-school purposes, and be extended so as to embrace special 
.agricultural schools in each of the States and Territories. 

p' How many amendments are we to vote upon ?" Laughter.] 

The President. It is for the convention to put in as many amend- 
ments as there are heads and minds here, and the chair will keep the 
list. [Laughter.] 

Mr. NoRCROSS, of Georgia. In offering this resolution I wish to say 
that the chief object of the comvention, as I understand it from the call 
of the Commissioner, is to obtain from this highly respectable assembly 
a recommendation to the country, or rather to Congress, for additional 
appropriations of the public lands, or their proceeds to agricultural ed- 
ucation. We all understand that agriculture is the great and chief in- 
terest of this our great country. And we all understand that it is very 
difficult for any government to extend direct aid to agriculture. It is 
true, by the extension of aid and encouragement to commerce and man- 
ufactures, agriculture is indirectly aided and encouraged. But we are 
here, as I understand it, to call for direct aid, and in this respect to 
represent the wish of the country touching this gTeat and fundamental 
interest. And I know of no other way, no other method, by which Gov- 
ernment can so effectually aid this great interest as by employing its 
means to educate the sons of farmers in the great art of agriculture j 
no method by which the whole country can be more signally and per- 
manently benefited than by aiding the hard-working farmers to make 
scientific and skillful farmers of their sons. Commerce and manufac- 
turing operations imply culture and skill. Merchants and manufactu- 
rers are forced by the characteristics of their callings to educate them- 
selves and their employes. Their pursuits are schools of the most prac- 
tical kind. But the care and culture of the soil, the discovery of its 
hidden mysteries and powers, require above all other pursuits and sub- 
jects the wide application of science and intellectual cultiu^e; and 
far more science and cultnrethan the hard-working farmers can unaided 
give to their sons ; far more than delving in the soil imparts to the 
delvers. Hence the necessity and the duty of the Government to aid 
in this great and noble work. 

The earth is our mother. But property or wealth springs from pro- 
ductive labor, trade, and intellectual culture. Take away or diminish 
either, and in that proportion wealth, the great feature of civilization, 
ceases to exist. Abolish either, if such a thing were possible, and civ- 



42 RATIONAL AGRlOULTtrTiAL OONVlilNl'TON. 

ilizatiou would at once dogoiiorate into barbarism. Almost; as much 
might Ite said, if intellectual culture were withliehl from the tillers of 
the soil. Give them the culture of iutellect, and all other requisites of 
Avealth and civilizatiou will flourish; the earth will bud, blossom, and 
bring' forth fruit in abundance. Direct all eftbrts, if you please to, to 
the education of farmers, and all other callings ^;^\\ take care of tliera- 
selves. Educate all others, and neglect this class, aud no power or 
device can save society from poverty and ruin. 

I would not, if I could, detract from the merits and claims of the great 
measure now before Congress for appropriating proceeds of the public 
lands to common-school purposes. I would not, if I could, detract from 
any measure to promote elementary education among the mass of the 
children. The measure already before Con'gress is but carrying out of 
the propositions of that great patriot and statesman, Henry Olay, made 
nearly forty years ago ; and which, if they had been adopted, might have 
saved our country from tlie calamities it has since endured. But, for 
Heaven's sake, let us use what influence we have to secure what re- 
mains of the public domain to aid this greatest of all earthly interests. 
In disposing of the balance let the proceeds be so invested as to edu- 
cate its cultivators, and thereby add, as it may, ten thousand per cent, 
to its value for rising generations. 

Mr. McAllister, of Pennsylvania. Mr. President, it seems to me 
that the great object is to devise some means by which we can the bet- 
ter make use of the appropriations Ave have already received from Con- 
gress. I Applause.] It is the want of just such consultation as is now 
going on hare tliat has prevented the beneficial results that ought to 
iiave flowe(J from the act of 1SG2. We design here, as I understand, by 
this convention, to centralize the results of our efforts to report to this 
Agricultural Department of the United States the facts developed upon 
the numerous experimental farms connected with our numerous colleges 
throughout tlie United States, that they may be made the base of an 
agricultural science. Kow, that being the design, it seems tome that it 
is a question which may admit of some doujjt whether it is* expedient 
for us, as tlie very first act of our convention, to grasp the public do- 
main, to thrust our hands into the Treasury of tlie United States, asking 
further aid, and this before we have popularized ourselves by the ben- 
eficial results that ought to fiow, and certainly will flow, from our agii- 
cultaral colleges. 

These agricultural colleges, from a day long before the passage of the 
act of 1802, were deeply cherished by myself and by the gentleriienwitli 
whom I co-operated in securing the passage of that act which has been 
alluded to as having been vetoed by a former President. Therefore I 
entertain the kindliest feelings toward these agricultural colleges. But 
let na ask what we can get. 

Now, one of the propositions made here is so to amend the report of 
this committee as to take into consideration all that the larger States 
have received, and to lop off the million acres of New York, or the eight 
hundred thousand acres of Pennsylvania, to lop it off from what they 
may choose to appropriate, and of whom are we asking anything? Ths 
gentleman says politicians. Concede it. Are these people to deny the 
States they represent their just rights ? Will they be content who can 
withhold altogether at their" pleasure; will they deny their constituents 
their just rights, and agree to lop off tlia 7nillion or eight hundred tbou- 
sand acres of land ? I trovr not. 

Mr. MAItTIN. To whom does the gentleinau refoiM/ 



NATiON./V^ AGTUCULTURAL CONTJ^NTION. 4S 

Mr. MoAlltster. Thf, goutlemaii ^vllo made tlie anieiuluioiit {o lalco 
into consideration all tliat the larger States have received. 

]Mr. SlARTiN. He entirely raisapprelieuds the intent of tlie propo- 
fsitiou* 

Mr. MoAllister. 1 beg the gentleman's pardon. Looking at the in- 
terest of these agricultural colleges, it has been said that large portions 
of these lands have l5eeu squandered. I think that is a misapprehen- 
sion. Large portions of tbo grant of 18G2 were sold at low prices, whicli 
were induced by the large body of land thrown upon the market atone 
time. 

One gentleman has said that if New York could make her millions oat 
of tliis, other States conld have done the same. They could if they had 
liad some man to step in and offer to buy all their lands, for the Statues 
had no right to locate an acre without it was in the samq State. There 
was no permission to any State in this Union that had not lands of its 
own to locate lauds in any other State. And they will not allow any 
State to hold territory in another State, and it was only by a contrivance 
that Mr. Cornell did purchase from New York, I believe at forty^ cents 
to a dollar an acre, with the understanding, no doubt, and the under- 
standing with him was not necessary at all, that the whole proceeds, 
whatever they might be at any day, should go into the coffers of the 
treasury. But there were but few St«.tes that had any men who were able 
to step forward and take all the laud and then hold it in trust for the 
college. It is just the same thing that would follow to-day if a. hundred 
millions acres of land were granted for the benefit of those colleges. 
There would be a rush upon the market, every one supposing that the 
first sale would give the greatest benefit, and the lauds would probably 
be sold at twenty instead of sisty cents per acre. And no doubt men 
liave made fortunes out of these agricultural colleges. 

As long as the States held a dollar of interest in the colleges, held a 
dollar's local interest in the lands, they could not be located in accord- 
ance with the act of Congress. Now, I have felt it my duty to call 
the attention of this assembly to these difficulties. 1 will co-operate 
most heartily with any member, and with all the members, of this body 
to secure for our agricultural colleges every dollar we can, but let us 
not ask what we cannot get, and especially let us not ask for that which 
will prejudice the community against us. There is not a farmer in this 
land that cannot appreciate the results of our experimental farms. 

Mr. Edmunds, of Illinois. I regret very much, a s the representative here 
of the Illinois Board of Agriculture, that the call made for this conven- 
tion did not give us some idea of what tbat call came for. No intima- 
tion was given to our board, or any other agricultural board in the State, 
so far as 1 am aware. I have learned from some few rcmarlcs that some 
individuals connected with colleges had information as to what should 
be done. I do not oppose the appropriations to colleges, or make war 
upon colleges in any form, but 1 desire here to represent the a.giical- 
tural interests of the country, the farming community of which I claim 
to be a member. 

Now, gentlemen, it is proposed here by this report to ask for a million 
of acres of land to be given to each State. Where arc they to locate 
them? Within their Vlomiuions "? Not one State in ten lins got one 
one million acres of land to locate within its own borders. Yc.ii might 
just as well hang up your fiddle on that question. [Laugliter.J What 
\lo you want? You want assistance. For what? For your schools and 
colleges ? To that I have no objection. It seems to me, gentlemen, 
that the bill now pending before Congress, number 1043, pledges every 



44 NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION. 

thiu;^- that can be asked. And I have here two short resohitions, and I 
ask that they be passed as a substitute for all this question. [Laughter.] 
J^Tow, gentlemen, I do not know how many of you may have had the 
pleasure of examiniug this bill now i^ending before Congress. It passed 
the House on the 8th of February, and is now i^ending before the Senate, 
and has passed its second reading. That act provides that the public 
domain shall be delegated to public instruction forever, and that the 
States shall respectively take their parts and hold it for the use of edu- 
cation according to their own notions, but that from year to year appor- 
tionments shall be made among the States, after paying the expense of 
service, according to the school population of those States. One-half 
of that shall be invested in the bonds of the United States, or some other 
good bonds, held in trust forever. Now, it provides for the scliools to 
be under the administration of the State governments. They may pro- 
vide who shall get it; they may require three months' school, they can- 
not require less ; and they are to distribute that fu»d according to their 
own ideas ; they may distribute it upon the whole number of .scholars 
that have attended school or in any of the three different ways. It 
reserves the right of homestead, the right of pre-emption, so that we are 
not cutting off the lands from the poor settler who desires to go from 
the East or from the Old Country to develop the West. It does not cut 
us off from the right to approjiriate land to our soldiers or sailors, either 
for the last or any subsequent war we may get into. It leaves the fund 
under the control of Congress, so far as those matters are concerned. 

Now, down among the primary schools where you reach every man's 
door. Every child, be he rich or poor, has the same advantages to edu- 
cate himself within the lower schools. Who is it that goes to the col- 
lege ? Is it the poorer class of people? Is it the laboring masses, or is 
it that class of people who are able to educate themselves *? 

Now, we have been educating for many years in this country our Army, 
and how many Army oificers, or how many gentlemen have been educated 
at West Point and Annapolis, who have not gone out the moment they 
got their education, and had the benefit of that education, and getting 
it from the United States, they have gone out entirely ignoring the 
State or United States. That is the way in Illinois. They go to this 
academy, get their education, and then say "goed-by to you, gen- 
tlemen." 

Now, the true way is to apportion fairly between the colleges and the 
common schools. Give to the colleges such as they ought to have, and 
the smaller schools such as they ought to have, and let them require 
a standard of intelligence and a system of education at tlie hands of 
their teachers, and that will require them to get an education at some 
institution that is above the ordinary schools. Tlien you have elevated 
the standard of your schools. Fifty per cent, of the amount for the first 
year of this may be distributed b^^ the States to the colleges, and after 
that ten per cent, to the schools. 

Now, for the purpose of presenting this whole question — and it seems 
to me it is all in a nut-shell — 1 propose these two resolutions as a sub- 
stitute : 

Jlesolved, That the true policy aud iuterestof this coiiiitry and its future political and 
social welfare depend upon the education and elevation of the masses. 

Rcsolccd. Thiit we approve the provisions of House bill 1043, entitled "An act to es- 
tablish an educational fund aud to apply the proceeds of the public lands to the edu- 
cation of the people/' now pending before the Senate of the United States, and recom- 
mend its passage. 

Mr. TwoMBiiY. We are all,satisfied by this time that the olDject of the 



NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION. 45 

conveutiou lias not been definitely defined. We arc invited to oome 
Iiero to talk about matters already established. The first notice looked 
to mo simply as a convention composed of delegates from tlie agricul- 
tural and mechanical institutions established under the act of 1863. If 
we consult the gentleman who has called us here he says he had no such 
design in his mind. But being here and being Americans accustomed 
to free speech, and having the work of education in our hearts, we 
. want to do what we can while we are here that will be of benefit. 

I do not want to stand here to criticise the woi'k of Congress. Pos- 
sibly I do not understand it. I do not exactly like one idea, and that 
is the giving a bonus for the literary school. I do not \i\n) the arrange- 
ment in respect to separate schools. 1 would not stand lierc nor in Con- 
gress, perhaps, to demand that the common schools everywhere be mixed 
schools, but I would demand a safeguard that is not in this bill. It pro- 
vides for public schools and allows of separate schools, but how to act 
with those children Avho are rejected from the common schools is not 
specified. No provision is there that ought to be, I believe, for a safe- 
guard thrown into that bill thatwhei^o cities or towns provide separate 
schools those schools shall be as nearly equal in time and quality as pos- 
sible, otherwise the fund should bo separated. This grant by the Na- 
tional Government may not give us one additional hour of schooling. 
Why I? Because there is no requisition whatever made upon any State or 
county, no condition of paying a certain amount to receive a certain 
amount. Now, you can keep a school three months, keeping two days 
in the week, if you please. Any city or parish or community author- 
ized to sustain schools is a district. 

I am happy to know, as the result of interviews v/ith several members 
of Congress, that there is an excellent feeling in that body in regard to 
the interests that they supjiose we have come here to promote. The one 
idea of educating the people properly crops out in the farmer, college, 
and university. Now, I am an agriculturist by practice, and by official 
profession a mechanic also. I have the same interest in promoting me- 
chanical industry as agriculture, and I am decidedly in favor of laying 
all thesesubstitutes and amendments on the table, and coming right di- 
rectly to the original resolution, which, perhaps, might be modified in 
some incidental matters a little, and place our desires as au addition to 
the grant of 1862. We want agricultural education, to be sure, but we 
want mechanical education just as well, and in some of our schools we 
want more. In a State in which the soil is good, where the people are 
agTiculturists by position and practice, and rarsiug good crops, where 
immense wealth lies untouched for the want of mechanical skill, we need 
development in that direction. I do not believe in tying one State to 
one single idea ; and I believe, from the statements of gentlemen in Con- 
gress and men of influence, that, if we go there and ask for a liberal 
donation to carry out the purposes of the grant of 1862, that we shall 
receive about what we ask, if it is in any way reasonable. 

Well, now concerning equality. There is no such thing in existence 
as perfect equality. We cannot have it. We talk of equality in repre- 
sentation, and we get near to it and rejoice in it, but we never reach it. 

My own convictions are decidedly in favor of asking Congress simply 
for a grant of a million of acres, more or less, for each State, to carry out 
the grand purposes enacted by the act of 18C2. Our old States began 
with a university. The University of Massachusetts as it once was, was 
started eight years befo^-e any act was passed ; having the head nght 
the body grew up to it. 

Here arc men hero to-day, sir, who ^^'ent to college-and lived on bread 



46 NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONTENTION. 

and ^v•a•tel•. And the men wlio are to educate tbe public miud, mowiiig 
in tlic sumuier, teaching iu the winter, starving in the autumn and 
iSpring, and coming out and giving their life for meager comi)ensatiou — 
these are keeping up the standard of education ; these are the ones that 
we shall bless, and they will be the nation's leaders. [Applause.] I do 
not know that ever I knew a rich man's son in a college, and I am glad 
to say we have almost all races, and one of the best specimens of a 
broad Christian union that was ever seen any^ hero. But ifc is the poor . 
boy that goes through ; and I vrant to make the tuition free, and say to 
these young men, " board yourselves and clothe yourselves, and your 
teaching you shall have on the same ininciplo as you have it in the pri- 
mary school." 

^J r. Fernald, of Maine. In this matter let us let by-goues be by-gones,' 
and make no attempt co equalize the hind-grants of the past, for by so 
doing- we complicate this question so that we shall be lil>:cly to hazard 
anything like a good thing from Congress. If equalization be with ref- 
erence to actual proceeds, that complicates as much as it does toattemx)t 
to equalize upon representation. And why not throw that whole mat- 
ter overboard, and come to Congress with the simple issue that we im- 
peratively need assistance. There is not an ofticer here connected with 
these institutions but know that the imperative demand is, more money. 
The Government, in its attempt to furnish these institutions Avith the 
means of successfully carrying out the act of 18G2, it seems, has not 
furnished an adequate amount, so that the institutions shall be in the 
highest degree satisfactory. Jfow, what is wanted is more money, but, 
as has well been said, the money cannot be directly obtained. Then let 
us have lands ; and I very much like the manner in which the subject 
was presented by Kegent Bowman, because it requires in a small State 
as well as in a large one just about the same amount of means to main- 
tain iii the highest efliciency a uiaiversit}^, iu which the object of the act 
of 1802 shall be successfully carried out. 

I-Iow, iu the State which I have the honor to represent, if the distribu- 
tion of land was upon acreage, the State of Maine would receive au 
amount, perkaps, nearly as large as all the other New England States 
taken together. But why should not the little State of llhodo Island 
have the means of maintaining an institution of great learning as well 
as Illinois or Ohio? It seems to me, if we ask for an equal amount for 
each State we shall secure it, anc} in no other way. Because a State is 
small, is it any reason why the means should nof be aftbrded to main- 
tain such an institution in the very highest state of efficiency possible'!? 
If we can settle upon a certain good plan we can bring to bear an amount 
of i]itlnencc or aid in this matter before CougTCSS that it seems to me 
cannot bo brought to bear in any other way. I do not desire that this 
matter be eomplicated in any way; in a simple manner it will commend 
itself. If these lands shall be given, the same will occur that has oocurred 
before in those States, where but small sums were received from the sale. 
Those States that have suffered from the altogether inadequate means 
ibr carrying on their institutions, you may be sure that great cfire will 
be taken by them, should they have those lands to control again, and 
that whatever the (xovernment shall put into their hands will be sacredly 
guarded. 

The State of Maine sold for fiftj^-three cents per acre, and theinstitu- 
tion of that State, which President Allen and myself have the honor to 
represent, is suH'ering to-day lor the means of carrying on our institu- 
tion. Can we not trust that the same skill iu the management of aftairs 
will 1)0 manifested as heretofore *? 



NATIONAL AGHICULTURAJv CONVENTION. 47 

• 

Mr. C.o^KELL, ol' iScw York. This qnestiou is surroimdod with, n groat 
mauy difficulties, us you liiive experienced by this time. We come liere 
for tUo ysiu'poso of aiding tij^Ticultural education, to see a good agricul- 
tural collcgo in even tlie smallest State; and I know of no reason v.iiy 
Delaware and KUode Island should not have as good an agricultural col- 
lege as Pennsylvania, Illinois, or iNew York. [Applause.] To establivsh 
such ail institution, sir, requires at least a million dollars, and if we can 
mate any suggestions, or hit upon any plan here that will accomplish 
the establishment of one good agricultural college in eacli of the States, 
wo sliall have done a great good. 

Upon general principles, I believe in the distribution of the benetits 
of Go\-ernnient among the States by representation ; but it appears to 
mo that in the eousideration of this question there are reasons why wo 
should depart from that rule, and, as a citizen of ]lSew York, 1 should be 
very glad to see the same aid given to each of the States for the purpose 
of seeing one good agricultural college. [Applause. | How that is to be, 
done is a difficult question, and it appears to me that you will not arrive 
at anything i)ractical in this convention other than the discussion of the 
subject and a better understanding of it. In the main, 1 think you will 
have to trust it to the committee which you appoint to confer with Con- 
gress. There are diftlculties in the Eastern States, in locating lands in 
the States where lands are situated that are insurmountable. One Sta,te 
ought to have been allowed to locate lands in another. 

There are difficulties in the sale of the scrip. Y'ou have been told here 
that the scrip of 18G3 has been sold at lifty cents an acre, fifty-tive, and 
up to various other prices. In regard to the scrip of New York, when 
the university that 1 have the honor of being connected with was char- 
tered by the State, the legislature had previously arranged for the sale 
of scrip that had been received to the extent of G1,000 acres, (I think 
that was about the amount,) at eighty cents an acre. The scrip of other 
States coming into the market, the price was reduced until the comp- 
troller of the State of New York stopped selling. At the time that Cor- 
nell University was chartered, the market price of the scrip for a single 
piece of lUO acres was sixty cents an acre. I could buy it at that price 
by the single piece. I Avas of the impression that an aero of good lan^ 
was worth more than sixty cents. I made a proposition to the St'ate to 
purchase the oollego laud-scrip of New York. I agreed to give them the 
market price, sixty cents an acre. 1 agreed, at the same time, that I 
would locate that scrip to the best advantage I could, pay the taxes, and 
sell the fund, deducting the cost of location, deducting the price of the 
scri}> that I paid to the State, the fees to the Government, and interest 
at seven per cent., and give totheuniversity the balance, whatever that 
might be. 

1 huve had some strange experience under the operation of that busi- ' 
uess, one of Avhich I will mention if I can obtain the consent of my Wis- 
consin friends, for it may reflect somewhat upon their business tact. 
[-' Go on, go on."j Then, after having located this land and come to look 
around for a purchaser, I commenced negotiations with a gentleman for 
the sale of .100,000 acres in one parcel. Alter several months' negotia- 
tion, I succeeded in selling to the gentleman that I referred to the 
100,000 acres at live dollars an acre. After we had closed the bar- 
gain and the' contract was signed, he put his hand into his pocket 
and took out and showed me a paper, and asked me to read it. It was 
a i>ropositio!i in writing, from the authorities who represented the lauds 
that had been located by the University of Wisconsin, offering to sell 
. him 100,000 acres of ti ne laud at $1.25 per acre. Those lauds were located 



48 NATIONAL ACtRICULTURAL CONVENTION. 

in tlie same forest tbat I located in, at the same office, aud tbey iiving 
in Wisconsin and having the privilege to locate their own lands, had 
the tirst choice. I had to take the leavings, and still I sold mine at $5 
an acre, while theirs was rejected at $1.25 an acre. Previous to locating 
these lands, J Avas up in Wisconsin and was looking around aud talking 
with the people there, and I found that they had very little faith in the 
luiblic lauds ; they had too much of it. They did not look upon an acre 
of land as being of much consequence. They wanted something else 
besides land, aud that, you see, was the result of their view of public lauds 
up there. 

Well, now, if you give land to these different States for the purpose 
of accomplishing this object you meet with these difficulties. If you 
put the scrip upon the market, the market pvice of it will sink to ten or 
twenty cents an acre. You have got to contrive in some other way to 
manage it, and then when you have located your lands you have the 
taxes of the State to provide for, and the State will even commence 
taxing you before they have'a legal right to do so. [Laughter.] They 
commeuced taxing me before they had a constitutional right to do it, 
and I had the thing to manage as well as I could, and it is a pretty 
serious difficulty. If the taxes are not paid they will sell the land, and 
if you do not do that pretty soon they will sell it. [Laughter.] 

Under the circumstances, I should hardly know what to recommend 
here. Generally, I have been opposed to the issuing of any more of the 
college scrip in consequence of these difficulties, and I am not sure that 
it is not better to let the Government make the sale of the lands and to 
make some proper distribution of the proceeds. [Applause.] What 
would be the best way of getting at that is a question that I am not 
prepared to give any suggestion upon. 

Mr. FoLWELL. I will speak yevy briefij' upon the question. I recog- 
nize all the practical difficulties to which the gentleman from New York 
has alluded, and it was the intentiou of the committee to avoid all the 
questions of detail. This committee did not wish to ignore any interest 
whatever. We endeavored to put our resolutious in a simple, practical 
form. The points are these : Congress, in 1862, established certain iusti-' 
tutious which should be for the benefit of industrial colleges, in partic- 
ular for the mechanic arts. Mr. Cornell, in a docuiuent which has now 
become T>ublic, has told us that they find at Cornell University they 
need more means, notwithstanding the magnificent endowment which 
he has added to the Government gift. We should like to have some- 
thing more in those new States which are so large. In Minnesota, for 
instance, capable of maintaining six million people, we have not an 
accumulation of wealtli ; it is for that reason that we make this point 
of equalization. The next point is that the requirement of the State to 
' take land-scrip was in itself inequitable, aud therefore we ask the con- 
vention to equalize the insufficiency and the inequality of the endow- 
ments as best they can, by granting additional lands. We simi)ly irat 
in a million acres of land as indicating what, in the opinion of the 
committee, would be something like a suitable amount of land. The 
selection and location cannot actually be made in manj" cases. We can 
do so in Minnesota, where one-third of our State, eighteen million acres 
of land out of fifty-four million acres, is owned hj railroads. [" How is 
it to be with Rhode Island."] If the gentleman was from the West he 
would be familiar with the way Ave do it out there. [Laughter.] And 
I could in a A'cry fcAv miuutes show how that Avhole land could be lo- 
cated for the benefit of the State. There can be no gentleman in this 
convention AA*ho has a gretiter interest in agriculture than myself, being 



NATIONAL AGEICDLTUKAL CONVENTION. 49 

the son of a farmer, and lie the son of a farmer, and so ou. There is 
no trouble about locating these lands in very many of the States, and I 
will, therefore, not go into a discussion of the matter. 

Mr. Gkegouy, of Illinois. Mr. President, I did not mean to partici- 
])ate in this discussion, but the remark that has been made by Mr. Cor- 
nell ought to be emphasized. Vv e have had a little experience in the 
State of Illinois in the sale of scrip and in the sale of lands. We did 
locate 25,000 acres, and that was the most we could locate ; these loca- 
tions are made in the States of Minnesota and Nebraska. We are to- 
day paying $3,000 annual taxes on 25,000 acres of land. If we had a 
million acres it would take all our funds and a good deal more to pay 
the taxes. [Laughter.] This proposition to give us land, therefore, as 
laud-scrip, neither of tlio«e propositions would be acceptable to the 
State of Illinois. If the million acres asked for can be got on some 
such basis as this, for instance, let those States that have the lands or 
that might wantthem, and think they can manage them, locate the lands, 
and let it be at oiu' option to take the lands or the amount in money at 
Government price, at $1.25 per acre. [" After the laud is sold or be- 
fore ?" Laughter.] When the donation is made. And in this proposi- 
tion that is made we ought not to leave out of sight the diiSculties 
which Mr. Cornell has so well stated, and which correspond precisely 
with the difficulties we have had. 

I went myself in backwoods fashion np into the wilds of Minnesota 
and located 9,000 acres, entering them at one of the land-offices there. 
We have retained 25,000 acres of the scrip, which we have to-day on 
liand, and have made repeated eftbrts to secure a location that would be 
satisfactory. A private individual can employ his own agent, is not 
compelled to wait for committees or boards of trustees, can go right ou 
and take his time, can locate lands and manage them in the State of 
Wisconsin better than Wisconsin herself did do it. It is impossible 
that the Eastern States shall make anything unless they have capital. 

I want to emphasize again the statement that has been made of the 
close affinity of these institutions to the common schools of the couutrj'. 
I spent the best years of my life in working for the common schools, 
and I yield to no man in enthusiasm for their support. But they are not 
all of the parts of our school system ; they could not live alone by them- 
selves ; and what has also been said about the relation between the 
education of the masses and the education, as it is supposed, of an 
aristocratic few, corresponds to vv hat President Eelton, at Harvard, told 
me. It was the glory of Harvard, he said, that she educated so many 
poor young men. 

To-day, at the Illinois Industrial University, the most of the students 
are not farmers, because they are not able to own farms, but they are 
hard-working students, starving themselves almost through a course of 
study. There is no such thing as cutting adrift these two, and I would 
simply ask Congress to make one broad sweep for the whole education, 
head, hand, and foot, and to put these institutions into thoBe vital rela- 
tions that they ought always to hold, not requiring us to come and ask 
for a fund that might otherwise go to the common schools, but to come 
in the name of all the people of the land. But we do not want simply 
land-scrip, with the privilege even of locating at the will of the gran- 
tees, because we are sure to be taxed if we do so — ^like the man who 
had the elephant to feed. [Laughter.] 

My. Bowman. 'Will it be in order now to offer a resolution to refer 
this whole matter to a committee of one from each State and Territory, 
in order to bring it before Congress. 
S. Mis. 164 4 



50 NATIONAL AGEICULTUEAL CONVEISTION. 

The FKEfcJlDEN:!'. Yea, sir. 

Mr. Bo^v3iAN. AVe vnll Lave to come to thin iliscuasiou agum, and T 
rise DOW, sir, if in order, to move as a sulistitiito lor tho whole the fol- 
lov/ing rcsohitious. 

Iic-nolrrd, Tb:L(. ii cODiiiutlcc of oiio from I'.iich Stato ;iikI Territory ropreseuted iu this 
conveutioii bo a])poiuUHl to ])r('paru ;i bill to be presented to the Congress of the 
IJuited fct:itcs, itwkiii^' for an iidditiuital appropriation of public lauda for tho further 
endowiueut of the State aj;rieultural and mechauieal collegeti ;iU"eady eatu-bliahed, mid 
winch may bo eMtablishcd hereafter in tho iscveral States. 

I\iVoiw(i, 2(1. That saiil couiniittee be unthorizwd to ap[!oiut ii siib-coramittco of their 
nuujbor to take (diargo of said bill, and to nrgo its passage by Congress. 

Commissiouer Watts. A coininittee of twenty cannot do anything at 
all. [Laughter.] 

Mr. Bowman. Tlien I luvve tjo objection toii smaller coimnittec. 

Mr. ^\XLEN, of New YorJc. Make a committee of twenty, and let theui 
make a sub-committee. 

Mr. Welch. One advanta<?e which will arise from having a. commit- 
tee composed of one from each JStatc will be that there will then bo one 
man from each Btitte at least that can see the memboivs of Congress 
from his ^tate and call their attention to the matter. 

Mr. Bo\v:5iAN. That is the object 1 had in vieAV. I therefore move 
these resolutions as a substitato for the whole resolution. 

Mr. J>IJANCU, of Virginia. What is the subject, Mr. President? 

Mr. President. The substitute of Mr. Bowman. 

Mr. IvOBiaoN. I rise to a ])oiut of order; it is not in my judgment a 
substitute ; it is dis]>osing of the v/hole matter. 

The President. The chaii; rules that it is an entire substitute. 

Mr. Branch, it is hardly possible, sir, to come to anything definite 
and unanimous in this body, if I should be permitted to judge from 
tho different opinions that hav<; been expressed. Some gentlemen 
have had experience in these colleges, and none of them seem to agree 
upon tho resolution offered. It is to be ])resumed that the committee 
Avill include those gentlemen who seem to have something to do in the 
matt^ir. 1 would rather see some practical farmers upon this thing than 
those gentlemen who appear to be mainly theoretical. I certainly pre- 
fer the bill now before Congress to anything 1 have heard here. The 
opinion of Congress is worth something. 

Now, the bill lays down the fundamental principle of how tho money 
shall bo disposed of, leaving to the States how the money shall be ex- 
pended. Now York cannot legislate for Virginia, nor tor any other 
ytate. If I understand one of those institutions talked about hero to- 
day, in Illinois, it is our Agricultural University which has poor boys 
and rich boys. Now, some of these institutions hayo to hire laborers to 
work their grounds. 

Mr. Cornell. I can say for one of those that has a farm of one hun- 
ched acres that it is worked by students entirely. 

Mr. Bowman, of Kentucky. The University of Kentucky, at Ashland, 
has four hundred and lilty acres of land, and those lands are worked 
exclusively by the students; and wo have young men there from your 
own State who walked clear from Virginia, barefooted, and have sus- 
tained themselves by their labor while acquiring their education. [Ap- 
plause.] 
Mr. Branch. I am very glad to hear that. 

]\Ir. (-.JREGORY. AjhI I. 

Mr. Branch. I have had enough, sir. [Laughter.] 1 trust wiien }ou 
go to Kentucky you will tell those boys that the University of Virgiuiii 
'3 just tlio place for such boys. [Laughter.! 



NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION. 51 

But [ would trust to the wisdom of Congress. 1 .say, sir, let Congros.s 
Jmve tlio disposition of tins matter. You say some Btates will uc\'er 
l)e permitted to locate land in any otlier State. If a government can 
run a. railroad from JMaine to Georgia, Avliy may she not give the right, 
to locate land in another State? I say it'is a "questionable luitljorily. 
Give Ehode Island as much as New York, but never distribute it in 
laud-scrip, because it will avail com])aratively nothing for New York. 
And in doing this thing, taking this bill before Congress as the basis of 
our action, we then have principles which can be amended from tiuu'to 
time as may be necessary. 

I do not go at all for making every man a scholar in this laud, as some 
gentlemen seem to desire. I think every State ought to educate its owft 
poor people so as to Ix^ educated about as 1 was, [laughter,] sixty or S(5V- 
euty years ngo, in reading, writing, spelling, and arithmetic; give them 
education enough to go out and make their own living. If there are any 
intelligent boys in an institution that need education they will certainly 
get it. They do not rely on the common-school system, but they are edu- 
cated in many v.'ays; and that is the way to do it. I don't av ant the 
Government to support the common schools. I don't want the (ioA'ern- 
ment to educate my children. I prefer to say that my father educated 
me, I say, sir, it is demoralizing ; its effect arises from the sellishuess 
of man, and we are too apt to run into extremes. It will be one of the de- 
moralizing iutluences to make every man a scholar. God, in His i>rovi- 
deuce, never has designed it; that is every day's experience ; [laughter;] 
no, sii'. [His time expired, but amidst cries of " Go on, go on," he con- 
tinued.] Every man in the convention has got an axHo grind, and he 
has his own peculiar views to tell, and his is the best way of all. 

The gentleman from Wisconsin thought that there ought to be a law 
to make the South educate the slaves. Why, sir, we are a Christian 
people, and I, sir, tender him the hospitalities of my city, the hospitality 
of my house if he will come to the city of llichmoud, Virginia. We 
never have had a dollar from the Government. Let him come to my 
town and he will see that the colored children have as good teachers as 
the white children. [Applause.] We are a Christian people ; we want 
none of your slaves ; wo are not hyenas, eating slaves. [Laughter.] 
1 say, sir, that I have been an humble member of a board of education 
in Virginia, and I know something about it. I, sir, am sorry that the 
gentleman should have adverted to such a thing. My town has appro- 
])riated $100,000 for education in the State. Lay aside that ])rejudice. 
[Laughter.] If you read the newspapers you will have no idea, of the 
state of things down there. We don't look Irom the siune stand-])omt. 
Why, sir, I could stand here and talk a month upon it. [Laughter.] 
It is not from any malignity of heart — but letrby-gones \w by-goues. J 
treat the black man as well as I do the white man, and, sir, to-day 1 
v.ould rather have him work for me than the white man. Do you un- 
derstand that ? [Laugliter.] 

Mr. Denison. 1 tliiidc the gentleman nmdc no allusion to Virginia, 
but was referring to the slaves in his own State. 

Mr. Beanch. I am very glad to hear that the blacks fare worse there 
than in our State. [Continued laughter.] 

Mr. TwoMBLY. Mr. President, does Mr. Branch yield the lloor ? 

Mr. Bkancii. I will yield the lloor to the gentleman if this gentleman 
did not nmke a satisfactory explanation. [Laughter.] My remarks ha\'c 
been discursive ; my habit is not public speaking ; I rose for the pur- 
l)Osc of answering the gentleman from Wisconsin. 

yir. Tavo:mbly. I intended no abuse, but the bill makes provisions 



52 NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION. 

where the people will not allow the two classes to be educated toget^ier, 
and makes no provision for the one class or the other. Suppose the 
colored people had a majority, and there was no school for the whites, 
it would be just as bad. 

And now, concerniug hospitality, I shall be very happy, if I ever go 
into Virginia, to partake of the gentleman's hospitality, and if he ever 
comes to Madison, Wisconsin, I shall feel slighted if he does not come 
to see me. 

Mr. Branch. And it will be my pleasure to accompany him down to 
Eichmond, [laughter,] and I will show you there a beautiful mixed legis- 
lature. [Continued laughter.] 

• I Avill just make another remark in reference to appropriations by the 
Government of lands for the States. I know of but two States that 
got it in the Soutli. South Carolina, I think, got some. [" Got it, but 
lost it."] And who were the commisfsion ? Why, sir, these infamous 
scalawags, and carpet-baggers, and saddle-baggers, or anything you 
may call them. The very bench, sir, has been polluted. [Laughter.] 
Yes, sir. [As Mr. Branch was taking his seat a member close by said, 
" You move the previous question, don't you "? "] Yes, Mr. President, I 
move the previous question upon the resolutions offered by the gentle- 
man from Kentucky, hoping that they will be voted down with great 
unanimity. [Laughter and great applause.] 

The previous question was seconded. 

The President. Shall the main question be now put? [" Yos, yes."] 
The question is upon the resolutions oft'ered by the special committee, 
the previous question disposing of the substitute and amendments. 

The report of the committee was lost. 

SATUEDAY— THIED DAY. 

The President. The convention will come to order. The secretaiy 
will read the proceedings. 

Mr. Fielder. I move that the reading of the record be dispensed with. 

Carried. 

Mr. DYCK3IAN. Mr. T. C. Everts, of Montana, Avho has been largely 
interested in agTicidture, asks leave to be admitted to the convention as 
a delegate from that Territory". 

Agreed to. 

Governor Patton. I move to admit John F. Burns, of Alabama, as 
a delegate. 

Agi'eed to. 

Mr. Jones. I move Hon. George Cleghoru, of Xpwa, be admitted as 
ib delegate. 

Carried. 

Mr. Barnett. It is not, sir, because 1 am fond either of speaking or 
writing that 1 beg to <;laim the attention of the convention for a few 
moments. We have come here for great and important purposes. It 
has called us from distant portions of the country, and we trust that the 
meeting will not end here with simply the fact that the assemblage -has 
been announced. With reference to the practical ends to be accom- 
plished I have a resolution to offer. I would first beg for one moment 
simply to explain that yesterday afternoon there seemed to be a little 
suspicion that there was something in the resolutions which were sub- 
mitted to this body unfavorable to the agricultural colleges of the coun- 
try, some discrimination against them. 1 beg to assure the convention 
that they have my heartiest sympathy and concurrence in their opera- 



NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONVENITON. 53 

tions, and that a close reading of this resolution will show that just as in 
the call of this'convention, in the same way they were included in their 
practical operation. With these preliminary remarks, I beg to call the 
attention of the convention to some resolutions in regard to the duties 
of this Department. 

Mr. Nicholson, of Tennessee. I rise to a point of order. I think the 
calling of the committees is in order. 

Mr. BATiNETT. I propose the following resolutions with regard to the 
AgTicultural Department : 

Besohed, As the sense of this couventiou, that the National Department of Agricnl- 
tnre will not have reached its fnll measure of usefulness until it shall not only act in 
active and practical concert with the several State agricultural colleges, boards, and 
societies, but also has proposed and established an international system of observations 
and interchange of information, by means of an organization oi" which it shall be a 
component pai't. 

Snch an extent of observation is essential to the attainment of the great objects of 
its institution. It is not Utopian nor impracticable. The great annual fact in the 
world's history is the crop-season, which God deals out to it — seed-time and harvest. 
The present condition of the seasons and the crops, the breadth of land sown or planted, 
and the general influences affecting it, are all facts obvious to the sense, capable of ex- 
pression and communication. When collected they .are capable of tabulation and 
diffusion. 

Where is the difficulty ? Why should we not enter into this inviting field ? Manhood 
has accomplished a thing more difficult, doubtless, during the present age. Is the diffi- 
culty in observation ? The statistics ah'eady furnished by the Department answer that 
question. It may, by co-oper.ating with land societies, be able to improve to some ex- 
tent the accuracy of observations, and the modes of averaging it. Is it in experience ? 
That, too, has been solved, by the use of percentage. Is it in communication ? Behold 
the telegraph, as rapid as thought itself. The resources of mankind .are fully adequate 
to the problem. 

The light shed on the pursuits of the agriculturist should accompany him through 
all the periods of his labor. It should guide his x^oUcy, guide him in prodiictio)i, and 
gnido him in sales, 

Such a system, with the improvements suggested by experience, would subserve all 
these purposes. It would instruct him in the decision what to plant. It would aid him 
in all the details of cultivation. Nor would it abandon him at this important period — 
leaving the gathered fruits of industry to be the prey of those who did not aid in any 
of its processes. 

Any system which enlarges the area of certainties, and diminishes that of mere con- 
jecture, which gives information as to the present and throws light on the probabilities 
of the future, raises- mankind in the scale of civilization. 

It gives new food for thought and new data for calculation. Wo do not hesitate to . 
say that it is perfectly iiracticable for mankind to know the probabilities of any par- 
ticular crop throughout the civilized world with much superior certainty to that with 
which a man estimates his crop. The laymen of the scale of observation eliminate 
error, or they balance each other. 

The proposed system is at once so practicable and so full of promise that we cannot 
but hope to see its substantial fulfillment. Its influence would be manifold upon the 
condition of mankind. It would at once stimulate and inform honest industry. It 
would diminish that predatory class of society which produces nothing, but consumes 
the fruits produced by others. It would enable men better to foresee what to count 
upon. It would render prices less capricious and thereby diminish speculation, wliich 
l)oth robs industry and tempts it fi'om its pursuits. 

The material and moral influences of such a system, generally adopted, would be in- 
calculable. It would enlarge the information of mankind concerning each other and 
their interest in each other. It would thus be better than all peace congresses, inas- 
^ much as the interest and the sympathies of men are stronger than their principles. 

To accomplish these great results, on which we have scarcely touched, all we need is 
nerve. In comparison with an Atlantic cable, a Pacific railroad, a Suez canal, it is mere 
hagateUe. Even private means could accomplish it. The munificence of a Poabody or 
.1 Cornell would suffice to establish the system. 

But the Department cannot make brick without straw. It should be properly en- 
dowed and sustained. The mere paper and pack-thread— the necessary machinery— 
should bo furnished sufficientlj', the Government only seeing to its economical and 
faithful use. 

There is no reason why statesmen aud men of science should not have at, their com- 
mand the immense area of facts comprAed in each year's expeiieru'e ; why they should 



£>4 NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION. 

)iot know what, iu tlio wliolo civilized workl, God is doin<r for man, and what inau is 
doing- for himself; of the great iuventory of national wealth. Stoclc.cau herepeatedly 
takoii, and its progression or retrogression being known us a guide for future action. 
T!je Department should have the means of furnishing to all }>arts of the (country and 
to the ]>eoplo of foreign countries accnrato and iin))ortant inforujatiou of the physical 
features and of the resources of all the States and Territories. 

In the problem of the best nse to be made of the ])ublic lands, why should not the 
Department of Agriculture — or a broader one, the deptutmeut of industry — which is 
the head of all organized means of improvement, receive adequate means to supply all 
needed clerical force and means of correspondeuco, tabulation, and distribution of 
knowledge. 

And in the education of the people let their grand fundamental industry bo instructed 
and informed, 1)oth by schools of science and the difi'usion of knowledge among the 
workingmen of the couutiy. It Avouldbo found that this is uo exceptionto the rule iu 
all departments of life — that knowledge is power. 

Mr. Hamilton. Is there auy two-minute rule iu existence ? 

The President. Tbe Chair woukl state that the ten-miuuto rule 
applies to speeches, not to reports. 

Mr. Swallow. I Avish to make one remark, sir, and ask the geutle- 
mau to separate the main body of that iwper from the resolution. It is 
very modest for us to suppose that we do uot understand the elementary 
principles of agriculture or x)olitical economy, but to pass a resolution 
which goes on to give these elementary principles. I think we are 
encumbering our proceedings Avith reasons, and I move to refer it back 
to the committee, with the suggestion that the committee separate 
them. 

Mr. Taylor. It matters very little, Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, 
with regard to the form of them. I think the idea is valuable, that it 
is well that this should be acted upon in some shape or other. I think 
as we work in this subject we find that this sphere is enlarging, and 
that it is nothing, but carrying out the idea of the working of the States; 
and we want to know what will be the tea crop of China at the morn- 
ing's breakfast table. AVe might as well know in regard to this thing 
and the productions of the soil ; and we stand in this relation, that 
reaching out toward the continent on the one side, vre stand here on the 
other as a connection between the old world and the new, and in more 
intimate relations than we did forty years ago. 

Mr. King. Is not that already a part of the Comiiiissioner of Agri- 
culture's duties — to collect the information *? 

Mr. Taylor. Whatever may be the duties of the Commissioner of 
Agriculture, I am sure it is not in the fullest extent, as embodied in 
this paper of the gentleman from Georgia. I am sure that we do not 
consider that the I)ej)artraent has a much wider field in which to work. 
0]]e of the reasons why I think this should be is that it should stand 
up with the other departments of the Government, in order that we 
may be placed in closer relations with the Commissioner of Agricul- 
ture. 

Mr. Swallow. I wdsh simply in my motion^ Mr. President, to say 
this : I want to save the idea of this resolution, but you understand that 
there is a great long stump speech attached to it, which I liope will be 
cut off". We are all in favor of the resolution without the stump speech. 
• Mr. Barnett. I think, as the gentleman from Virginia said yester- 
day, we have had enough of it. 

Mr. Denison. It seems to me that we are consuming more time in 
details than we ought to do. 

The resolutions were referred back to the committee. 

Governor Patton, of Alabama. I have a resolution which I will 
read, with the permission of tbe conTention. It is to the same point ; 



NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION. {35 

Ecsolved, Tliat tbis conreutiou do liercby rcspoctially pctitiou the United States 
Governiueut, through the State Depiirtioent and the Executive, in favor of tho estab- 
lishmeutjby iiiternatioual co-opcratiou, of a general and systematic plan of meteorologi- 
cal observations and crop reports, and to request tho Governnieut, in furtherance of this 
object, to invite the other nations to meet, in the per.sons of their leading meteorolo- 
gists, ai; an early date in conference, like that of Brnssels in 1852 : 

1st. For tlie purpose of connecting with the plan now ])r.iposed tlie sy.stcm th;»t wa.-; 
then devised for the sea. 

2d. For tho purpose of arranging details. 

3(1. For the pni-poso, also, of providing for a general system of tclegrapliic juateor- 
ology and crop reports, to the end that our knowledge of the laws which control tjjo 
functions of the atmosphere may be increased, and that accurate and useful forecasts 
may l>e made at freojicnfc intervals as to weather and crops in all countries ; and that 
tho United States Government will co-operate in this system of reseaTch by causing thn 
plan tliat may be agrec^d upon in conference to be carried out in tin.", cour^try, and to 
bo adopted on board of tlie mitioual cruisers. 

Mr. TnorMPSON. It strikes me it Trouid be well to refer it to the Vv'lir 
Departmeiit. 

Governor Patton. I liave no doubt that this thing- has reached the 
Department before now. I have been in correspondence with agricul- 
tural societies, and they consider it very important. Professor Morie 
delivered an able address upon this subject not long since, \vhich has 
been read by many members of the convention, I have no doubt. I 
think myself that the skill and ability of scientific men should be 
brought to bear on this subject. 1 am, sir, as one from the Gulf State 
of Alabama, proud to st^nd here on this floor by the side of my Mnine 
friends [applause] to develop and improve the agricultural resources of 
our country. We are not only agriculturalists in farming-, but in plant- 
ing. We g-row rice, sugar, and tobacco, and last, bnt not least of sAl, 
cotton. We furnish cotton to the manufacturing mills of the North. 
We toil in the tropical sun, Mr. President, to help our northern friends. 

Moreover, it is not improper here to state that I represent a class of 
people not now as they once were, for they are vifally intarested in com- 
manding all the information they can, so that the speculator, the cotton 
buyer, the man who lives by chance and not by the sweat of his brow, 
shall not reap the benefit. I want to jiromote that class of persons 
whom I represent, that they may know the relative condition of the 
agricultural interests of the world. I have had the honor to be a mer- 
chant all my life, as well as a planter, and I have occupied some public 
stations. I represent more than half a million of that class of persons 
whose relations have been vitally changed in the last few years, and I 
want them to know that every pound of rice will bring a certain price 
without the intervention of the speculator. [Applause.] Sir, that 
class which I have the honor to represent are laboring to ])]ace them- 
selves in a better condition. 

1 am iiot here to discuss political questions ; but these resolutions. 
Mr. President, are of interest to all the laborers in tho South, Southeast, 
North, and Northvrest. They are vitally interested in knowing what is 
going on in the agricultural world with such minds as that of this dis- 
tingnished gentleman who favors the projects, tiiat class which I r-ep- 
resent not in the main, but are almost, equal in numbers to the white 
population of the South. The condition of the colored people is im- 
proving every day. [Applause.] Trne it is they are im]>rovider.t., but, 
sir, it is for youajid for me, and for those who can thiulc ibr them, to 
advise them so that the operations of their hands may be productive 
to themselves and the whole country. [Applause.] 

I presume, Mr. President, tliat gentlemen here are not as familiaily 
ac<:iaaint5d with the facts down in the Mississippi region as some who 



56 NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION. 

reside there. It is wot improper for me to state in tlie Soutliem couutry 
tlie intelligent classes are perfectly content with the condition of things. 

I, like many others, sir, owned a large amount of that kind of property 
that I have been talking about. And 1 say now that if 1 had the pow^r 
to-day, and I represent more than myself, I would not change the rela- 
tions which exist between myself and my colored servants that labor for 
me. [Applause.] We are a proud people, Mr. President, and it takes 
a. gallant man to surrender gracefully in the light when the odds are 
against him. [xipplause.] 

Mr. President, you hear a great deal in Massachusetts about the de- 
moralization of labor ; and to some extent it is demoralized j and how 
could it be otherwise ? But, sir, we hear that this labor will not be made 
productive. I say it is not very probable. 

In 18G0 the cotton crop had grown to be 4,720,000 bales. Cotton was 
said to be " king" in old times, not " king"' in war, but " king" in clothes. 
Why, I recollect driving the first mules or horses that ginned the first 
cotton in Alabama. It is a late thing. We thought when we made 
100,000 bales in the valley of the Mississippi, that this country was so 
beautiful, but this is only a part of the world that will grow cotton. If 
we get up to half a million bales what will we do with it ? And it finally 
got up to five million bales. We did not know away back there that there 
was not enough to give the Chinese one shirt apiece. [Laughter.] Why, 
we cannot increase the cotton crop too much. To-day, Mr. President, it 
would all be consumed. And, down in that country where the labor is 
demoralized, our crop of cotton to-day will bring over 83,000,000. I had 
the honor to make an address that caused me to calculate the number 
of bales that were iwoduced. I was astonished. In I860 we made 
nearly a million bales of cotton in Alabama. At the time I was governor, 
soon after the war, I had occasion to travel over many Southern States, 
and from my information I concluded that we never could grow half the 
produce that we did before the war. Alabama made nearly one million 
bales at that time. To-day the cotton crop of t;he South is worth more 
by nearly 810,000,000 than it was at that time, whilst the last crop 
summed up to nearly 850,000,000, chiefly growing out of that very labor. 
Let me tell you, Mr. President, and tell other gentlemen here, that the 
whole crop of 1871-'7ii will not be as large by a million bales as that of 
1870-'71, but it will bring more money. And we want to send to you at 
Lowell and Lawrence, that I visited with a good deal of pleasure, an in- 
creased crop. And I want, Mr. President, to increase the interest of the 
country that has recently been born out of trouble, so as to invite not only 
the labor, but to say everywhere that ours is the land of promise — the 
valley of the Mississippi. ' We talk about the Japanese and Chinese, and 
Europeans. I say w^e want citizens in the South, and capital too. The 
field is open. I have lived in Alabama, and 1 was in every part of the 
State since I was governor, and in every part of the Southern States, 
and you will be surprised v/heu I say that I never. saw a Ku-Klux in ray 
life — these high-capped big-gowned fellows. I have been in a position to 
see them, but I have never seen one in my life. [Applause.] 

Mr. Edmunds. I agree with the gentleman that we want information, 
but I desire to understand how this proposition is to give us theinforma 
tion that he desired in order to get at the true condition of the crops of 
the country, and the true value of the agricultural interests of the coun- 
try, so that the planter of the South and the farmer of the Xorth may 
kuow when to hold, and when to sell his crops. 

Goveinor Patton. I do not think any scientific man in the country 
will supersede Providence. I don't claim to be a scientific man 5 I am 



NATIONAL AGEICULTUEAL CONVENTION. 57 

from obscurity. I liave never rubbed these slaoulders against college 
walls. I am a laboring man. I have never gone through the colleges, 
and all that I say and all that I am comes from obscurity. I do not pre- 
tend to say what Avill be said t« you by the skilled men on the subject of 
meteorology. They are to fathom, and we are to take it as we find it. 
How did you know where to lay the Atlantic cable except by the aid of 
science "? 

Senator Moesill. Not being able to remain here, I desire to call the 
attention of the convention to a single resolution which I propose to offer, 
that will not take up any time ; will not, I think, need any discussion. 1 
will read it, and, if it does notmeet with opposition, I hope it will bepassed 
upon immediately. 

Ecsolvcd, That, as a sense of this couveutiou,wedeem it of paramount importance to 
ask of Congress, as we do earnestly, for an additional donation of land, or proceeds of 
land, suflQcient to found a professorship of some of the branches of practical science 
in each of the colleges now wholly or in pait sustained by the previous land-graut of 
Congress, and also that the War Department may be directed, at the earliest practical 
moment, to assign an officer of the Army to each of said colleges, in every respect com- 
petent to give. mathematical and other military instruction. 

We sometimes ask for grants we cannot get. I hope this resolution 
wUl be passed. 

The resolutions of Governor Patton and Senator MorrUl were both 
passed. 

Mr. Welch. Mr. President, I wish to present the credentials of Hon. 
W. G. Donnan and Hon. G. G. Wright as delegates from the State Hor- 
ticultual Society of Iowa, and, more, that they be admitted as members. 

Carried. 

Mr. TwoMELY. I wish to make a motion, looking to business. Tou 
have a large business committee, and that committee made a report; 
and I now move that the statement presented by the Commissioner of 
Agriculture be taken from the table and passed upon at the j^resent time. 
Ibavemade this motion at the deske of the Commissioner of Agriculture. 

Commissioner Watts. Those resolutions were postponed at the time 
because it was convenient, and never been acted upon. We would not 
feel ourselves at liberty to make the co-operation under the circum- 
stances. 

The President. This was laid upon the table as a guide for the busi- 
ness committee to make their report, and the points contained therein 
were embodied in the report. 

Commissioner Watts. ThedifiSculty is, having laid it upon the table, 
it is lying there yet, and is a determination on the part of tliis conven- 
tion that it rejects it. 

The President. The document was referred to the business com- 
mittee. 

Commissioner Watts. It was the report of the business committee, 
and could not be referred back to them. 

General Halstead. I move that the report be referred to the 
business committee. 

Commissioner AVatts. It is the report of that committee ; it is the 
resolution of the business committee. 

Mr. BovoiAN. 1 move tlijft that part of the report be taken up. 

The President. The chair will state that he desires that the report 
mny be read in order that we may know what we are voting on. 

Mr. ED]\iirNDS. I understood the chair as putting the vote to pass 
this report, and I desire to speak upon it before it is to be passed. 



;)8 NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION. 

Mr. B0W3IAN. T raovC5 the adoption of the reuiaiuing portion cf the 
roi)ort. 

Mr. Edimunds. What portion of thu report has not been acted upon? 

The President. 1 will read the report. [Inserted above.] 

Mr. Allen, of New York. I move the previous que.stion on the pas- 
sng;e of that whole resolution. 

The previous question was seconded and the resolutions adopted. 

General Halstead. I hold in my hand resolutions wliicli 1 hope will 
be adopted. They are not the emanations of my owji mind, l>ut are 
handed to mc by a very able gentleman : 

Ifcsolrcd, That the agricultural societies and at>Ticultnral colle.o;es of thin country 
h:iYe the same great aims — the improvement of agriculture and tlie ele%'atiou cff the 
agvicultural classes — and should be knit together in the firmest friendship. 

Iiesolved, That wo heartily approve the admirable suggestion of our president, Hon. 
George B. Loriug, that each State and county agricultural society shall provide one 
scholarship in the agricultural college as a living bond of union between the society 
and the college, and as the most effective means of increasing the number of agricul- 
tural students in the country. 

I'esohrd, That we recommend the agricultural colleges to procuic the appointment, 
annually, of a committee of intelligent i)rarctical farmers, to assist iu the examination 
of the agricultural classes iu the colleges, and that no graduate of such colleges shall 
receive a di^jloma till he shall pass a satisfactory examiuation before such committee. 

I present these resolutions with the greatest pleasure. 

[The President. Step upon the platform, general ; your presence is 
worth a good deal.] 

The agricultural society wliicli I represent has been in connection 
with the agricultural college of our State in obtaining donation of land- 
scrip from the Government, and gone hand in hand with that college, 
receiving benefit and giving benefit. We have worked together, and 
we have added to the college, the normal school of our State, until we 
have a branch in that normal school to teach the analyzatioji of the soil j 
and we have tried in 'New Jersey to elevate the system of common 
schools by competitive examination. Children in the State can go to 
the normal school, and from that to the agricultural college on a com- 
petitive examination. And I am proud to say that in my county the 
boys from our ward schools iu our city take all the prizes for entering 
into our agricultural colleges, and Jiave excelled tlie rich men's sous from 
private schools. In New Jersey the poor men are tlie ones tliat fill our 
colleges and take the highest stand, even in our political, as well as our 
civil, life ; and they are the men who started life poor, and, by hard work, 
have gained the position which they now occu])y. And the fe(?ling of 
our agricultural society towards the high school, normal school, and 
colleges of our State, is in the best and most united sympathy and love, 
and by those means we have kept up the educational feeling in Kew 
.Tersey ; and we intend to elevate it. [Applause.] 

Mr. King. I move that the second resolution be considered separately 
by the convention. 

Commissioner Watts. There would be lio objection to any of these 
resolutions. 

Mr. Allen, of New York. I move tlie previous question on the reso- 
lutions. 

The.previous question was seconded anil the resolutions adopted. 

Mr. KoECROss. I have a resolution that I wish to offer, and have it 
referred to the same oommittee. I will read it, and net bore the conven- 
tion with a speech. 

Hesolvcd. That in tJie sense of this convention the Comniissioucr of Agriculture 
should be elev.'itod t«o the position of a cabinet othcej- of tiiis Governmant. 



NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION. 59 

AgTicultiire represents the greatest interest in tliis coimtry, and the 
Commissioner ought to bo in the cabinet. I nslc its reference to the 
business committee. 

Carried.. 

Mr. Aiken. As my colleague, General Wade Hampton, lias appeared 
on the floor, I respectfully ask the convention to appoint him instead of 
myself on the committee. 

Carried. 

ENTOMOLOGY. 

Mr. RiLEi', of Missouri. I have a resolution vrhich I desire to oifer. 
Wo have been making- some efforts to arrive at a definite plan of action 
— but I vrill read it, and it ^ill explain itself : 

Whereas the injuries caused by iho noxious insects to tho different crops of the 
country arb among tho most serious drawbacks to successful agriculture, and all 
knowledge that will enable us to counteract the ravages of these pests of the fii,rmcr 
Hhonld be disseminated thi'oughout the country; and 

Whereas it is known to the members of this convention that INIr. Townend Glover, 
entomologist of the Department of Agricultiire, has been for many years engnged iu 
preparing expensive illustrations and other materials for a work on insects; and 

Whereas the labors of said officer are in great i^art lost to the country for want of 
sufficient means to publish this work : Therefore, 

Eesolvcd, That this convention earnestly ask of Congress an ai>propriation to the 
Department of Agriculture to enable it to publish the work at once. 

licsolved, That an annual appropriation of at least $10,000 bo furthermore asked for 
tho special purpose of causing experiments for tho destruction of noxious insects to 
be made by the different State boards throughout tho country, whenever tbe Commis- 
sioner shall see fit to so instruct and direct said boards, tiie results of such experi- 
ments to bo pul)lished iu and disseminated through the monthly reports of the 
Department. 

Mr. Chairman, I uee"d to say but fevf words on this resolution. By 
careful coiuputatiou, those who have given this subject most attention 
know full well that this country loses annually over three hundred 
millions of dollars by the destruction of these insects, and I wish to give 
the Department power to lessen this destruction. I think we should 
have this work of the entomologist published as soon as we can get it 
published ; and I think the work will certainly do good to the country. 

The second proposition is to bring concert of action between the dif- 
ferent boards of agriculture and this Department. I consider if this 
Department had the means to authorize the president of the different 
b.oards to devote so much money to the destruction of nosious insects it 
would result in gi'eat good. 

Commissioner Watts. I wish to say. before that resolution passes, 
that since I came here I have had occasion to get the opinions of many 
scientific men upon this work, and such a wdrk has never been prepared 
by human brain since this world was made, on the subject of entomology. 
3 1 is so minute and particular. It illustrates every insect that depredates 
upon the face of this earth; [laughter ;] gives it so that any man can take 
u]) that book and examine the subject, where the insect depredates and 
v.'hen it depredates; and the necessity of this publication has been urged; 
and it is only because there are no means that it has not been done. 

Mr. Allen, of Kew York. I do not want to make any talk about this 
matter, but I want to say that the party occupying the chair of ento- 
mology, I suppose, is the' most accomplished man in the United States. 
I knew him twenty-odd years ago. 1 found him at Poughkeepsie, and 
our society had, for many years, his valuable services ; he was at work 
on fruits and insects. Why, he can almost make a thing. I don't ay 
that his models will grow, but they will come the next thing to ir. J 
uaderstanil him to be a bachelor. You will find hjm in his den down 



60 NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONVEIJTION. 

here ■working away at Lis bugs ; yes, working from the time the office 
closes until late at night. Ho is a i^erfect hermit, so devoted to this 
profession in which all his soul is wrapt. I think the Commissioner is 
wrong, however, in one thing. He says he has given all the insects. 
Now, the old naturalists eay that eveii the lleas have lice. I 'don't think 
he has gone that far. [Laughter. A voice, " Yes, he has."] 

Mr. Johnston. I wish, also, to say a few words in its favor. I know 
that his classification of insects is the best that has ever been adopted 
for this country, perhaps for any other. His work is calculated to pro- 
mote the most popular interest. He has worked, as Mr. Allen has said, 
day and night, to my certain knowledge, and has got a portion of it 
ready for publication, called the Colecrptera, or beetles. 
. Mr. TwoMBLEY. What would be the probable cost, say, of two thou- 
sand volumes of such a work ? 

Commissioner Watts. The only information that I have is that the 
mere printing of it is a matter of very little moment. It is composed of 
plates; and the best estimate I could make of it would be .$25,000; that 
is, for the plates. 

Mr. EiLEy. I originally placed $20,000 on the resolution, but, at the 
suggestion of the Commissioner, I struck it out. 

PRESIDENT GRANT. 

At 12 o'clock the President entered, and -was escorted to the platform 
by the committee, the convention rising to receive him. 

The President. Mr. President, I desire, in behalf of the gentlemen 
present in this convention, who represent, I am happy to say-, almost 
every State in this Union, to welcome you to their deliberations. They 
are engaged in discussing the topic which lies at the foundation of the 
prosperity of this country, and they really feel gratified that you have 
been able to be present. Gentlemen, I have the pleasure and honor of 
introducing to you the President of the United States. [Applause.] 

The President took a seat beside the president of the convention. 

Mr. KiLEY. Now, I consider that we shall do a great deal of good in 
this way ; and I hope the resolutions will be adopted. 

Mr. BoBisoN. The expense here spoken of is comparatively nothing. 
Here, sir, by these insects, the productions of a whole State are swept 
away in a short period of time. We have but little information on this 
subject; our knowledge is comparatively small. Can we not ask Con- 
gress to appropriate the small pittance of $25,000 to carry this informa- 
tion to every home in the land •? It would be considered a mere nothing 
at my home, in Ohio, to appropriate this amount for such a great work. 
I hope the resolutions will pass. But I will not detain this audience 
upon this question, for I think they commend themselves to every man. 

The resolutions were adopted. 

Mr. Jos. N. Sturtevant. I desire to offer the following : 

Ficsolved, That in the estabKshment by the Department of Agriculture of a national 
agricultural and economical museum we recognize the commencement of a work both 
highly interesting and useful, and commend the plan upon which it is founded. 

iicsolud, That the Commissioner of Agriculture be requested to desire of Professor 
Glover, who is engaged in an admirable attempt to classify knowledge, and bring before 
the eye the subjects of our thought, an account in detail of the plan as it exists in 
his own mind; and when obtained to incorporate the same in the report of the Depart- 
ment. 

Resolved, That wo recommend to tjie attention of educators the subject of museums 
as a means of impartiug knowledge, aud, appreciating the value of a well-ordered col- 
lection of natural oh.ieats, deem it particularly dcsira,ble that such maybe instituted at 
the several agricultural colleges of the countty. 



NATIONAL AGRICULTUSAL OONVENHON. 61 

The resolutions were adopted. 

Mr. Hashlton. I desire to introduce the following- : 

Jxcsolced, That the Commissioner of Agriculture bo requested to have yreparad for 
publication the proceedings of this convention, and have printed a sufficient number to 
supply a cojjy to each member of Congress and live copies to be sent to each delegate 
on this roll for distribution in their respective States. 

A Voice. Where is the money to come from ? 
' Mr. HA]\nLTON. Well, out of the general fund. [Laughter.] 

Mr. Cunningham, of Illinois. I move to insert '' 20,000 copies." 

Commissioner Watts. The great difficulty is that there is no fund. 
The convention will understand that the appropriations to the Depart- 
ment are specific, and cannot be applied to anything except what they 
are made for. 

Mr. Burns, of Alabam.a. I move that the resolutions lie on the table. 

Mr. Cunningham. Could they not be printed in the monthly report? 

Commissioner Watts. That is rather impracticable, too, because it 
would require the whole report to publish a full report, and it would n.ot 
be a legitimate compliance with the act of Congress. 

Mr. Wheeler. I would refer it to the committee to visit the two 
Houses of Congress. 

The President. It is moved that the resolutions be laid on the table. 

Carried. 

Mr. Fernald, of Maine. I move that the report of the committee on 
experimental farms and stations be now taken up. 

AgTced to. 

experemental stations. 

Mr. ii^^iCHOLSON, of Tennessee. As chairman of the committee on 
experimental stations, I would beg leave to state to the convention that 
we have had the subject under consideration, and we have been kindly 
aided by the co-operation of a similar committee appointed at Chicago 
duriog last summer, members of that committee being also members of 
this convention. The result of our deliberation is a preliminary report, 
which will be read by Professor Atwater. 

Mr. Atwater, of Tennessee. I will read the report of the com- 
mittee : 

The importance of speedily establishing experimental farms, or ex- 
periment stations, in the United States, scarcely need bo discussed at 
this day and in this place. In all time the means of progress in art and 
science have been observtition, experiment, comparison, and deduction 
— the ascent from facts to rules, and to laws which are the basis of rules. 
-The resources of simple observation and ordinary experience have long 
been well nigh exhausted in respect to many agricultural questions, and 
the paths of future progress must be determined and laid out by the aid 
of experiment. Nearly all the great benefactors of the art of agricul- 
ture have been men who knew how to plan, execute, and interpret ex- 
perimeuts. 

Our implements of tillage and harvesting ; our high-bred animals ; 
our choicest varieties of grain, roots, and fruits ; our systems of land 
drainage and rotation of crops ; our economy of fertilizers ; in short, 
the best plans and practices of our agriculture, are the grand result ol 
a loug series of experiments, whose beginaing is lost in the vagueness 
of tradition. 

Two evils that have thrown a heavy shadow on our agricultural ad- 
vancement have been : Pir«t, the painful slowness and uncertainty of 
progress, and, second, the enormcus waste of misdirected energy. The 



62 NATIONAL AGKICOLTCTKAL CONVENTION. 

farmer wlio, iu this country, lias upon liiui in most cayes the treble labor 
of earning his bread, of clearing up and permanently improving his 
estate, and of ascertaining for himself the best method for his husbandry, 
must attempt either one of these enterprises at the cost of some 
success in the others. He needs and now begins to demand a division 
of labor. 

The advantages of co-operation la all enterprises of a commercial or 
political character are sul^ciently understood. In agriculture we have 
long held the theory of associated efibrt, and through our agricultural 
societies it has accomplished much. A pressing want of the moment 
is the establishment of special stations for the simple and exclusive pur- 
pose of carrying on experimental investigations for the benefit of the 
farmer. This want has long been felt, and in many of our States the 
agricultural sociAies, the geological commissions, the boards of agri- 
culture, or the agricultural colleges, have put their hands practically to 
the task of satisfying an oft-repeated and most reasonable demand. 
These cftbrts have, indeed, been in part spasmodic, in part imperfect, 
and in all cases inadequate, but they constitute a beginning, and are tho 
signs of an energy, which, when awakened and rightly directed, will be- 
come the pride and glory of our agriculture. 

The first requisite in this work is a clear vision of what it is ijracti- 
cable to accomplish. There are questions, whose solution Avould be of 
the highest service, which it now appears nearly hopeless to expect will 
yield to anything but the most scientific and prolonged siege. There 
are others, which, in all probability, may be resolved in a short 
time. To the first class belong the higher i)roblems of cattle feeding. 
The precise condition of the formation of nitrates in the soil is a subject 
of the very highest practical importance in its bearing on the economy 
of manures and on the rotation of crops, which, doubtless, might be 
quite fully elucidated by a compatively easy chemical investigation. 

In the second place, a full knowledge of what has been done in other 
years and other countries must be obtained before the work of investi- 
gation can be intelligently laid out. 

In Great Britain, France, and especially in Germany, has accumulated 
a mass of observations, facts, and conclusions, which constitute a capi- 
tal for prosecuting this business, which Vv'e can borrow by paying the 
slight interest of translation and publication, and without which we 
shall waste years of work in simply rediscovering what is already known 
and in repeating the trials which have been found fruitless. 

An acquaintance with the methods of research, which have proved 
successful in experimental study, is a necessary ' part of the investiga- 
tor's outfit. It is folly to continue experimenting on cattle feeding 
without chemical analysis of the food and of dung and urine, or to base 
the value of fodder rations on gain or loss of live weight, since we have 
had recent demonstration of the worthlessuess of such methods. 

The supply of the means for the support of experiment stations is a 
matter not to be overlooked. Experiments cost money ; stations must 
be procured, equipped, set in operation, and kept in operation perma- 
nently. They require continual outlay of labor and money, and return 
nothing but information and ideas. They are not and cannot be self- 
supporting. The State legislatures should be appealed to for aid in 
their establishment and mainteuauce. The agricultural societies should 
make liberal contributions, and each landholder should be urged to add 
his subscription. The importance of the v/ork makes it worthy of the 
aid of the Department of Agriculture, and of the direct support of 
Congress. 



NATIONAL AGEJOULTUKAL CONVENTION. 63 

The cost of {m experiment station ueed not be large. Tiie outfiit will 
depend upon the direction in Avhicli investigation is to be prosecuted, A 
few tliDusand dollars, Jind sometimes a few hundred, Avill make a begin 
uing. The annual outlay may range from one to many thousands. 
Most of the German stations cost tAvo to five thousand dollars a year. 
The grand experiments of Lawes and Gilbert, which have been in pro- 
gress for a quartet of a century, are said to have occasioned an annual 
expense often of fifteen thousand dollars. There is useful work that 
may be done for a few huudreds. 

Concert and harmony of action are essential to the fullest success. In 
Germany there is annually held a convention of the persons — more than 
ojie hundj'ed in number — who direct and perform the Avork of the forty 
experiment stations of Germany and the adjacent countries, in which 
they discuss the details of their labor, and lay out i)laife for co-opera- 
tion and distribution of work. 

The uses of these stations are by no means imx)lied in the enunciation 
of their immediate objects. They will be found to lorm the grand 
sources of agricultural progress. A jilat of gTOuud Avhere trials in cul- 
tivation, or stable where feeding experiments are carried on, or laboratory 
in Avhich the questions of vegetable physiology are undergoing experi- 
mental investigation intelligently, is acenteruot only of light, but of heat 
also. These stations will excite the interest of the most indiifereut. 
They will educate the mature farmer who cannot be reached by colleges, 
who are not adequately reached by an existing agency. This result is 
one most reasonable to anticipate, and one which has been brilliantly 
realized wherever the opportunity has been presented. 

Mr, Nicholson. In behalf of the committee, I desire to present the 
resolutions designed to carry out the recommendations that you have 
heard read. 

The committee, in considering the subject that was presented to them, 
learned that in France, in England, and in Germany, there has been 
accumulated a vast deal of information upon this subject. The great 
bulk of it is in the German language, and it needs elimination and con- 
densation, so that the facts, figiures, and truths established there may be 
put into the hands of the American farmers. It so happens that there 
arc a few gentlemen eminently competent to do this work. I will read 
the committee's recommendation : 

IiCdolvcd, Tliiit tlio couimittco bo coutiuued, and instructed to prepare aucli report as 
in their j udgmeut may be best littcd to set forth the character, vahie, and practicability 
of experimental stations, and to solicit tho co-oiieration and assistance of the Depart- 
ment of Agriculture for preparing, i)ublishiug, and disseminating said report. 

I am instructed by the committee to report this resolution. As chair- 
man of that committee, I desire to offer an amendment, so that it will 
read : 

Iie-solctd, That the committeo be continued, and that Professor S. W. Johnston bo re- 
(I nested to prepare such further report as in his judgment may bo best fitted to set 
tbrth tho character, \alue, and practicability of espevimeut stations; and the commit- 
tee solicit tho co-operation and assistance of the Department of Agriculture, for pre- 
paring, publishing, and disseminating said report 

At this stage of the proceedings President Grant retired. 

Mr. Allen, of Kew York. As a member of that committee, I haAc a 
few words to say, in as brief a way as possible. In order to get to work 
we want a ti-anslation of this foreign work . Professor Joh uston , located i n 
New Haven, Connecticut, the seat of the university there, which has 
the agricultural school of that State, can do this work, and we propo.sc 



64 NATIONAL AGEICULTUEAL CONVENTION. 

fcliat be be charged Tvitli this duty; and it will.be done in this "way with 
a less expense than almost in any other. 

Mr. Klippart, of Ohio. Are they aware how many experimental sta 
tions there are in Germany ? 

Mr. Allen, of New York. Professor Johnston knows. 

Mr. KxiPPAPfT. I know, too. There are sixty-seven experimental sta- 
tions in Germany, and each station furnishes a volume annually; and 
they have been in existence from three to eighteen years. I believe that 
I have the bulk of them, and by the time we have all that matter printed 
and distributed we shall have a library. 

Mr. Allen, of Xew York. We propose to i)ick out that which, is 
worth something and translate it. 

Mr. Klippart, That, then, will leave ns to repeat the useless experi- 
ments. I hold "that each State should select what she requires and do 
her own translating. No one is more anxious than myself for such 
translation, but the labor is too great for any one man to undertake. 

Mr. Clark, of Massachusetts. The importance of the business which, 
is now before us I think we shall all agree upon at once, and the import- 
ance of knowing what shall be done is essential also. If we look back 
to the early days of chemistry, we find that the old alchemists, from the 
year 800 to 1800, worked alone, shut up in their laboratories, trying to 
find the philosopher's stone. Do not let us repeat that. If we let every 
State do it as the gentleman proposes, we shall have it done forty times 
instead of once. 

Mr. Klippart. Not at all. I propose to divide up the work among 
the States. We don't care about rice and cotton experiments in Ohio, 
but we want wheat, corn, sorgho, and potato experiments, just such, as 
Georgia and Alabama do not want. 

Mr. Clark, of Massachusetts. It seems to me, sir, that we could not 
dispose of this whole question so well as just in accordance with that 
resolution ; and I shall only be too thankful if Professor Johnston wiU as- 
sume this responsibility. 

Mr. SwALLOYf. 1 wish to suggest one amendment. The main work 
of this committee is not yet accomplished — the establishment of these 
exj)erimental stations ; and I think it would be i^roper, sir, that there 
should be a committee-man from each State. One man does not know 
the peculiarities of another State so well as one who lives in that State. 

Mr. Allen, of New York. It has been thought best to leave it to the 
States to carry out in their own way. We only propose a general plan 
to introduce the matter, not to conclude it. 

Mr. Swallow. I suppose the committee called to their assistance a 
committee of one from each State, and why iiot put them all together 
on the committee. 

Mr. Nicholson. I knov/ the committee were fully apprised of the 
great extent of the work done and the length of time that it has been 
going on, and it was because they were impressed with this fact that 
they make this recommendation. And thus much on the point that 
there is too much work for one man to do. The French government 
sent a commissioner to visit, examine, and report upon these stations. 
I hold in my hand not a very large book, and yet it contains, clearly 
and succinctly stated, the main principles upon which the work was 
operating at that time, in 18G7. Now I know, and I believe every gen- 
tleman of science here will indorse it, that the gentleman whom I have 
proposed to do this work is fully as competent to do it as the commis- 
fsioner that the French government sent there. He has, in addition, the 
benefit of the Commissioner's labor and all of these publications and 



NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION. 65 

men ready and "willing to work with bim, and wlien they make their re- 
port, then Maine and Louisiana and Florida will be prepared to know 
what errors have been committed and what facts have been proven by 
this government by. these long continued operations, backed by money 
that we liardlj' dreamed of. It is a clear, simple work ; a work that will 
produce just the very things that we want. We* want light, and I think 
we have named the man who can so collect the rays through the lens 
that will illuminate the whole subject. 

Mr. Sturtevant, of Massachusetts. I think we are acting hastily. 
We have not sufhcient information. We are called here to work for the 
Department of Agriculture, not to work outside. I move that this whole 
matter relating to experimental stations be referred to the Department 
of Agriculture. , • 

Mr. Fernald. I wish to state that there arp two committees acting 
together, one from Chicago, and the committee appointed by this con- 
vention ; and these two committees in concert have carefully considered 
the matter, and they most earnestly hope that it will be voted to adopt 
the report as presented. 

Mr. Swallow. As the committee would not accept my amendment, 
I have written it out. I move to amend by adding to the special com- 
mittee, "the business committee of this association and one from each 
State and Territory not here represented." 

Mr. Allen, of New York. I cordially approve of the widest discussion 
and thought, but I do not know how this* committee will get together. In 
the mean time the gist of the matter can be eliminated and be read}' 
for report next year. And it seems to me the committee will not corre- 
spond, not willfully, but they will become negligent. Now, as a matter 
of courtesy, you are bound to i)ass it, and then if you want anything 
more 1 will cordially' sui)port it. 

Mr. Swallow. It is not my part to oppose anything the committee 
have, but to throw some information. 

Mr. Childs, of Michigan. I have no objection to the committee remain- 
ing as it already is, representing seven States. I do not desire to see this 
amendment passed ; yet, if it is to pass, I would prefer to move an amend- 
ment to the amendment. If this committee is increased, I would move 
an amendment to increase it by a representative from each State not 
now rei)resented. ["That is the amendment."] I do not so understand 
it. This special committee represents eight diflerent States; putting 
these two together will make fifteen, and my amendment was that 
instead of adding to this si:>ecial committee of seven the business com- 
mittee, which represents seven States, that the chairman of this con- 
vention be authorized • 

The Peesident. The business committee of this convention consists 
of five persons. 

A Member. The business committee which was appointed on the first 
day of the convention was one from each State. 

Commissioner Watts. On the first day of the convention there was 
a committee appointed consiting of one man from each State. They 
defined partially what should be the business of the convention. That 
was considered, and the convention undertook to fix the mode in which 
the subject should be considered, and in that business they referred 
almost the whole subject to the business committee of five. 

The President. The chair will read the resolution of Mr. Nicholson. 
[Inserted above.] 

Mr. Swallow offers the following amendment. [Inserted above.] 

Commissouer Watts. We have no means for doing that; our appro- 
S. Mis. 164 5 



66 NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION. 

priatioiis are specified, as I said before, and it would devolve ii]ion the 
Department an expense for wliicb there is no appropriation. There is 
a certain amount appropriated for the purchase of seeds, for sahiries, 
and even to the care of the stables, and if there be any balance we are 
obliged to send it back into the Treasury at the end of the year, 

Tiie President. Would it be legitimate to include the doings of this 
convention in the annual re])ort of the Commissioner ? 

Commissioner Watts. I think it is likely, Mr. President, that we 
could give in the annual report of the Commissioner a condensed report 
of the jn-oceedings of this convention. I do not know liow much space 
it would take, but you and every member of the convention will api)re- 
ciate the necessity of our keeping steadily to the mark of giving agri- 
cultural information to the country, and whether the publication of this 
would not be an avoidance of it. 

Mr. Allen, of New York. How I'ong will it be before the next annual 
report comes out"? 

Commissioner Watts. These questions are very hard to answer. 
The annuiil reports have not ai)i)eared until more than one year after 
their dates. The report of 1870 has just been published since the 1st 
of January, and this is the first report that has been issued since I came 
to this position. 

The Commissioner has recommended to the Agricultural Committees 
cf the House an<I Senate, with which he has taken pains to have an 
interview, an additional appropriation to this Department. He has felt 
continually how little means we have to do with and how much infor- 
mation has to be furnished for different purposes. Whether they will 
do it or not is a matter for the action of Congress. I know those com- 
mittees are alive to increasing the appropriation. But you will find 
individuals in the House and Senate who sit upon the Treasury box 
with their finger in the keyhole. jLanghtel'.] But I only desire it to 
be understood that our appropriations arc specific, and we cannot divert 
them from their special objects. 

Mr. Allen, of New York. If we are to disperse after comiug, some 
of us, a thousand miles and some of us many hundreds of miles, and 
spending our money, without being noticed, v.e had better have staid 
at home. ["That's so."] 

I am perlectly willing that what I have said should be dropped out of 
the proceedings. But I want to read the report over at my leisure, and 
1 want to think upon what was done here, and if we are to go home 
h'om here with no report of our doings, we had better have staid there, 
and a great deal better. [A voice: " Let us contribute."] 

Why did the Commissioner call us here "^ He knew there was expense 
atteiuiing it, and now he says he has no money to pay the exjiense of 
publishing our proceedings ; and if they go into the annual report we do 
not get them till the next annual repoi't comes out, which will be next 
year. 

Mr. Lines. I rise to a point of order. This discussion does not per- 
tain to the resolution under consideration. 

Tiie President. The question before the convention is the resolution 
of Professor Nicholson, and that is the point which Mr. Allen, of New 
York, IS discussing. 

Couunissioner Watts. The chairman of the Committee on Agricul- 
ture of the Senate is present and would like to say a word. 

Mr. Cornell, of New York. I was simi)ly going to remark that, if 
you will send your proceedings to Ithaca, I will have the students of 
Cornell University publish them for you, to show you the kind of print- 



NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION. 67 

iiig tbey cau do. [Coutinued applause. "That sounds like business j 
that is right."] 

Mr. Allen. I thank Mr. Cornell for his generous offer, but I say, with 
all gratitude to him, that I do not think we should ride a free horse tO' 
death. 

Mr. Cornell. I should be very glad to send to the gentlemen ol" this 
convention a specimen of the manner in which the boys of the univer- 
sity do printing. [Applause.] 

iSeuator Frelinghuysen. I came here, gentlemen, at the request of 
the Commissioner, not expecting to say anything until this question of 
expense was raised in your body. I now only wish to say that I do not 
doubt that the Congress of the United States will, with great i)leaKure, 
make any appropriation that is necessary to defray the expense of pub- 
lishing the proceedings of this convention ; and if this convention see 
pioper to request that their proceedings be published, as chairman of 
the Cotjunittee on Agriculture in the Senate, I will take great pleasure 
in exerting my ability in advocating their i)ublication. [Applause.] . 

I would say, further, Mr. President, that I agree with the convention 
that our country is in great fault in the attention it gives to this subject 
of agricultUBt*, and that this convention have it in their power to create 
a public sentiment which will call upon the Congress of the United 
States to make more liberal appropriations. 

Wiiy, look at it. As I understand, the agricultural products of this 
country for the last year were, in their value, greater than the national 
debt — very nearly $2,500,000,000. Of course, .vou are to deduct from 
that the expense of the production. And what is it to be in the future? 
Now tiiere is about 20 per cent, of the whole area which is in farms, and 
only about 8 or 12 per cent, under (lultivation. 

What are to be the interests of agriculture in the future? It is the 
great interest in the country, whether we look at the national poli(;y or 
the farmers, who have the independence and ability to control the na- 
tional policy of the country. It is first in the material interests of the 
countr\ , an<i, 1 think we may say, in moral influence, for it is that class 
of people, free from the temptations that surround city life, that exerts 
good influences. And I now tender myself ready, as the chairman of 
the Committee on Agriculture of tlie Senate, to co-operate with this con- 
vention, and with all who are interested in the farming interest of tlie 
United States, to induce Congress to do what ought to be done in this 
mat ter. [ x\ i >pl a use. ] 

Commissioner Watts. I now move that the Agricultural Department 
be instructed by this convention to prepare the proceedings of the con- 
vention, to make their report to the Congress of the United States, and 
ask that they be published. 

Mr. Lines. I move to amend by providing " that we accept the offer 
made bv Mr. Cornell." I think that that would be much better. ["JS'Oy 
no."] 

The President. The question is on the motion of Commissioner 
Watts. 

. Mr. Thompson. I move to add that the thanks of this convention 
be teiidcied in the same resolution to Mr. Cornell for his generous offer. 

Commissioner Watts. While I would be very glad to ])ay any honor, 
and 1 fee! very kindly for him, let the gentleman look for a moment to 
the attaching of it, to preface or conclude the resolution, by a compli- 
ment to any gentleman, and to take it up to Congress with this attached. 

Mr. Thompson. I will withdraw it and offer it as a separate resolution. 

Mr. Denison. I wish to add an amendment " That the i)resident of 



68 NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION. 

the couveution and secretaries be associated in preparing the minutes 

of this cbnveutiou." 

Coiumissiouer Watts. The only difficulty is that those gentlemen 
are away. This cannot be done in a minute. Time is to be taken, and 
I do not see what good would come Irom it, as none of the gentlemen 
would be here to consult with us. 

]Mr. Clakk, of JMassachusetts. It may be very well, sir, for us to leave 
the whole matter in the hands of this department, but a single word 
Avhich was dropped by the Commissioner leads me to doubt it. The Com- 
missioner has objected on the ground that this would not be agricultural 
information, but ht3 says that the distribution of seeds, roots, and bulbs, 
as well as accounts of experiments, is agricultural information. And 
when the agricultural convention of this country come here as repre- 
sentatives from the different societies and embody their ideas in reports 
and resolutions, he says this is not agricultural information. Now, sir, 
I want the officers of this convention to go with, the Commissioner in 
l)reparing tlie report. 

Mr. G11EG0S.Y. The Commissioner of Agriculture, with all deference, 
has already pronounced a part of the proceedings of this couveution 
folly, "of which he has washed his hands." 1 do not see how the 
proceedings of this convention can be properly made up without the 
aid of the chairman and secretaries, who have had the minutes in 
charge. 

The resolution was adopted. 

Mr. IlOBisoN. I wish to introduce the following resolution : 

Besolrt'd, That the thanks of this couveution be tendored to Mr. Cornell, of Cornell 
University, for his generous oft'er to publish, through the students of the university, 
the proceedings of this convention free of cost. / 

Mr. Cornell. I beg the gentleman to withdraw it. 

The Peesident. We are all very much obliged to Mr. Cornell, and 
have expressed it vociferously. 

Mr. Allen, of New York. He don't need it. 

Mr. IvOBisoN. I see that all great men shrink from notoriety. But 
it is due to ourselves, sir, as much as it is due to Mr. Cornell, and I 
hojie that this resolution will pass. 

Adopted unanimously. 

The PiiESiDENT. The question ]iow is ui)Ou the adoption of" the 
report of the committee. The chair will read tlje resolution again and 
the amendment also. [Inserted above.] 

Mr. Snodgeass. Let us nnderstaud now who are this business 
committee; if that committee is composed of five members or one 
from each State. ["All the States are rei)resented."] 

Mr. Lines. 1 hope the amendment will not be adopted, but that 
the resolution will be adopted as it stands. The committee will not 
correspond. 

A Member. I move to insert "now" instead of "here." 

Mr. Allen, of Connecticut. The committee have, m my judgment, 
arrived at the correct conclusion, and their report is precisely what 
we want. That amendment, it seems to me, would defeat the very, 
purpose of the resolution, and I think we ought not to pass it. 

The amendment of Mr. Swallow was lost, and the resolution adopted. 

MILITARY education. 

Mr. Gregory. I have the report of the committee to which was 
assigned the subject of military instruction in the colleges. 



NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION. 69 

Tlie committee to vrliich was referred the subject of military 
edncatiou in agricultural colleges report the followiug: 

The military power of the people is an object of national concern. 
However peaceful in temi)er or secure in position, no laud is permar 
nently safe from the fearful visitation of war. iSTo civilization, however 
enligiiteued or however Christian, has yet been able to deliver any 
nation from the dread resort to arms, to defend its honor and its life. 
Certainly, our own nation is not yet permitted to give itself up to the 
dream of perpetual peace. It is, therefore, the dictate alike of 
sagacious statesmanship and of a wise patriotism to maintain, in a 
state of healthful vigor and preparation, the military power and 
resources of the republic. In this view the following facts are 
important: 

1. The old militia systems of the country have failed. They were 
cumbersome in operation, poor, if not useless, in results, and expensive 
to the people. 

2. The system of volunteer uniform companies has proved fatal and 
inadequate. Formed for mere purposes of good-fellowship and parade, 
these companies have, in most cases, been useless as schools of military 
art and have fallen into speedy decay. 

3. Although it has been j) roved that onr citizens quickly become 
good soldiers when their country needs them, it has also been shown 
that they need, for their highest efficiency, intelligent and well-trained 
officers. To educate these officers on the held in the midst of actual 
war may be the quickest method, but it is at fearful risks and at a 
cost too frightful to contemplate. 

4. The advancing experience of the age has decided that all arts 
resting on a scientific basis and largely involving scientific iirinciples 
can only be well taught in scientific and technological schools, or, at 
least, by systematic educational methods. Military education is a 
fixed fact in all civilized countries. Tiie old French armies owed their 
power to the educated soldiers who led them, and now Germany 
conquers France by the power of a still higher and better military 
education. West Point, wliose establishment was urged by Washing- 
ton himself, inadequate as it is to the wants of so great a country as 
^'ours, has proved a great value to the nation, and has, therefore, been 
able successfully to resist all attempts for its overthro r . 

t 

A NATIONAL SYSTEM DEMANDED. 

From these facts we conclude that the time has come for the organi- 
zation of a wider and more adequate system of national military ednca- 
tiou. The conviction that we, as a nation, need something more than 
the single school at West Point is gaining a wide hold among the people. 
The law of Congress requiring the agricultural colleges and industrial 
universities to teach military tactics was both a confession of public 
need and an incipient effort to establish a national system of military 
schools. The wisdom of this effort no thoughtful statesman will deny. 
Our military power is, first of all, a national interest. When a hostile 
power compels the resort to arms, it is not allied armies of confederate 
States, but the Army and ISTavy of the nation that are summoned for 
defense. To the outside world, and especially to its enemies, the repub- 
lic is one and indivisible. Hence, our militaiy schools should have a 
national aspect and connection. 

But as our military i^owers also have State uses, and as oar military 
schools ought to have a vital connection with State systems of educa- 



70 NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION. 

tion, they should be in some sense State schools. Tlie plan roughly 
involved in the congressional grant for colleges of agriculture and me- 
chanic arts admirably combines both elernents, State and national. 
Perha})s our national law-makers "built wiser than they knew." But it 
is evident that something more is needed to give tliis])lan full force and 
efficuc-y. The funds provided by the grant are, in most cases, wholly 
insuflicient for the sai)i)ort of a lull course of military instruction, in 
addition to the other work required of these schools. The immense rail- 
road and other land grants made by Congress, Just on the heel of the 
grants made for these colleges, as well as the narrow, if not illiberal, 
restrictions put upon the location of the college scrip, robbed the col- 
leges of more than half of the support they ought to have gained from 
the grants. Had the funds proved equal to what was Justly expected 
by the States accepting them, they might have been ample for the work 
imposed by the law of Congress; but to meet that work will now, in 
almost every case, demand additional funds. Those funds will doubt- 
less be provided when the want is fully understood. 

A PLAN PROPOSED. 

1. Let Congress give to every State that shall comply with the pre- 
scribed conditions $15,000 annually, to aid in the maintenance of a col- 
lege of military science, the conditions of this grant to be that any 
State accepting the grant shall furnish, as the military college, an insti- 
tution: first, having a capacity for the instruction of students, and 
an actual attendance of male students; secondly, furnishing instruc- 
tion in all branches of learning now provided at West Point, (military 
science to be included on receipt of grant;) thirdly, having a parade- 
ground ample for the evolutions of a battalion of infantry or a section 
of artillery, and a drill-hall sufficient for the drill of a company ; fourthly, 
requiring all male students, unless excused for a Just cause, to drill long 
enough to learn thoroughly the duties of the infantry soldier; and fifthly, 
affording free military education to all students applying lor the same, 
under such restriction in regard to age and character as may be required. 

2. The $15,000 shall be used in paying the salary of a [)roressor of 
military tactics, who shall teach whatever pertains to the organization, 
subsistence, and management of armies in camp or field; a professor of 
military engineering, including ordnance, gunnery, «S:;c. ; an assistant 
professor, who shall be a competent drill-master and draughtsman; a 
band-master, who shall be competent to teach the college band, and au 
armorer, to be ch^irged with the care of arms and drill-hall. Tue sur- 
l)lus, if any, may be used for the purchase ot military equipment, mili- 
tary books, ])lans, models, and other apparatus of instruciion. 

3. The War Department shall appoint commissioners, who shall pre- 
scribe a course of military education for these military colleges, and also 
a higher course for West Point, which shall be made of higher grade, 
and shall receive a i)art of its students from the graduates of the n)ili- 
tnry colleges. These comujissioners shall also appoint annually exam- 
iners, who, with examiners appointed by the governor of the State, shall 
inspect the military colleges and examine the classes, selecting from 
each graduating class cadets, who shall enter the West Point 
school, with the same pay and emoluments as enjoyed by cadets of West 
Point. 

4. The War Department shall furnish to the military colleges the 
necessary arms, accouterments, camp equipage, and ammunition to be 
used in the instruction of the classes and in the drill of all the students. 



NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION. 71 

ARGUMENTS FOR THIS PLAN. 

1. It will greatly increase military education tliroug'liout tbe country. 
Three-fourths of the studies at West Point are such as are pursued at 
every good college. These colleges may easily take on the special mili- 
tary studies now taught at West Point; and so we may have in each 
State an institution e(inaling West Point in work and surpassing it in 
average numbers, while that institution might be advanced to occupy 
the ground of higiier military instruction now wholly vacant in this 
country. 

2. It would afford to each State a body of trained military men, not 
separated wholly from civil life, yet offering the means of the ready 
organization of its milittiry power, not under foreign officers, but under 
those who would gratify rather than offend State pride. 

3. It would be a vast riationnl economy. The entire expense of these 
schools, one in each State, would be less than the cost of maintaining a 
single regiment; while, counting only an average of 2"j0 cadets to each 
college, it would give the country eight regiments of men, each of whom 
would be competent to become a drill-master at need, and would keep 
the whole country supi)lied with intelligent officers. 

4. The time favors this movement. The late great war and the recent 
re(h)ction in the list of army officers have left us large numbers of edu- 
cated military teachers, who could at need iill these professorshii)s. 
Once in piogress, the graduates of the military colleges would supply 
all future demands for teachers. 

5 Experien(;e proves that the introduction of military education on a 
sufficiently large scale helps rather than hind(n\s ordinary college work, 
ai<ling the discipline, affording healthful physical training, and promoting 
habits of personal neatness, order, and precision. The sum named is 
the least that can be relied on to induce the older institutions to make 
the ellbrt, or to enable the new ones to do it successfully. 

Finally, unless Congress shall adopt some such system to supply the 
necessary aid for these military colleges, or unless the States themselves 
grant this aid, the law requuiug military instruction should be forthwith 
repealed. 

Mr. CiiiLDS. I move that the report be accepted. 

Tiie report was accepted. 

Mr. Mallet, of Virginia. Is it contemplated by the report that new 
colleges should be established, or simply that the means of military iu- 
strnction in the agricultural college should be extemled ? 

Mr. Gkegory. To all new colleges establishexl under the same law. 

Mr. Mallet. Is it true that the comiiiittee establish new societies'? 

Mr. (iuEGORY. They contemplate establishing departments where they 
are already established. 

The President. The chair is authorized to say that the report of the 
committee refers simply to the creation of military departments in the 
agricultural colleges. 

Mr. Grey. 1 move that the report be adopted. 

Mr. Fielder. 1 desire to make a statenient. The section from which 
I come yields to no other section in the Union for the education of the 
females. I cannot vote for the report of the committee. I simply de- 
sire to state that it does not meet the sanction of my judgment. There 
are facts and principles connected with the ideas of government that 
this whole plan violates, but I do not care to discuss the principles 
here. 



72 NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION. 

Mr. Edmunds. I move to lay the resolution ou the table. Lost, 29 
to' 30. 

Mr. PuRNELL, of Delaware. I do not wisli to make a speech, but I am 
coimected with a college which has been compelled as far as possible to 
comply with this act of Cohgress in regard to military instruction, and 
-vve ha\'e felt an iuconvenieiice because we could not fully comply. We 
have had drill and iustruction twice a week, but we could not comply 
exactly with that act. But my reason is not that I am opposed to have 
any military education, but I would not like to give it so prominent a 
position. 

There is another reason that I have for opposing this report. I should 
think it would prejudice our action of yesterday if we go before Con- 
gress and ask an ap[)ropriation and then ask Congress to appropriate 
$12,000 or $15,000 a year; we will not get either. We must not be too 
greedy. I would modify the resolution so that the colleges should not 
be compelled to give this military instruction. And so 1 think we had 
better be a little more modest. Our college is strnggliug to establish 
itself under this appropriation of Congress under the act of 18G2. Let 
us have the assistance to help us along, and let us keep that as a lead- 
ing point. Let us do one thing at a time. And let us vote to have this 
law so modified that the colleges will not be compelled to expend so 
much time on this military feature. 

Mr. Welch, of Iowa. I do not propose to make a lengthy sp.eech, but 
I wish to give my adhesion to the sentiment of that report. I think the 
convention ought to know, as evidently some few of the convention do 
not, what the.law requires. It requires that every agricultural college 
that occupies the grant shall give military instruction. 

Now what are the practical difficulties? And so far as my acquaint- 
ance with the other agricultural colleges is concerned, the difficulties 
are identical in them all. In the first place, we have not been able to 
secure men generally who are capable of giving military instruction. I 
say with the chairman, wdio reports the action of the committee on that 
thing, that if we cannot get additional help then it is evidently wisdom 
that the law should be abolished ; but I do not see that there is any want 
of harmony or any discrepancy in giving iustruction in military science 
and agriculture. So far as the young men are concerned, in the institu- 
tion of which I have the honor to be president, certainly there is a 
wholesome public spirit with regard to it. Now, if the gentleman will 
take the ground that we do not need military instruction in this coun- 
try, that our past experience shows that we have military men enough, 
and too many, then certainly let us abolish this law, tor it is now one of 
immense embarrassment. 

Now, as the gentleman who made the report says, the expense in- 
volved in giving this additional aid for the purpose of teaching military 
science will not amount in the aggregate to the expense involved in sus- 
taining one single regiment. The passage of this proposed law in Con- 
gress or the aid given to these institutions will, of course, make the edu- 
cation better and give West Point not what it has now, but give it a 
high-school that shall stand related to the colleges as the university of 
the State stands related to the public schools. I think I see in it a well- 
considered and grand scheme for giving instruction in this very import- 
ant branch. 

Mr. Williams, of Texas. I rise to oppose this resolution. The law 
of Congress has provided for military instruction, and I think our duty 
here as agriculturists is to confine ourselves to something whicli will 
increase the capacity and usefulness of those colleges in that particular 



NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION. 73 

branch, for, as far as military instruction is concerned, I have only to 
say this, that it is a feature in the colleges which is not popular and does 
not fit a man to be a good agriculturist. I had the honor to be a graduate, 
and I do not know that the military education does upt improve a man 
as an agriculturist, and therefore I think this report is judicious. Let 
us confine ourselves to getting an appropriation to enable our colleges 
to be better in Ihe line of agricultural education. 

Mr, Claek, of Massachusetts. I am a member of this committee, and 
couiseuted yesterday, rather against my will, to sanction the report. 
It seems to me that if we will heartily indorse the resolution i^resented by 
the honorable Senator from Vermont, and stop there, we can get it. I 
think Congress will give us two professors, which is giving to each col- 
lege $G(>,()()0 outright. If this convention will assist in the matter by 
adopting Senator Morrill's resolution, Congress will give to us $60,000 
in cash, to every one of these agricultural colleges, and when the time 
comes for asking more, let us ask for more and we shall get it, for this 
matter of military education is not a thing of little importance. 

Not many years ago, as one of the commissioners of the State of 
Massachusetts to organize a military academy, we visited West Point 
and tlie Naval Academy and learned what we could from Europe, and 
njade a report to the legislature. Having been called to preside over 
that institution, I immediately set myself to work to establish a military 
branch which should be a useful part in the agricultural college ; and I 
am not afraid to s;iy here that that department in the JNIassachusetts 
college Las been both popular and successful. We started upon the 
idea that what was worth doing was worth doing well. I organized 
the military department of the college precisely as I organized the chem- 
ical laboratory for the chemical department, and a drill-hall 150 feet 
long, where our students can drill for the military. Then we said we 
Avill have the best of weapons — not wooden guns. And, sir, we have 
sabers and breech-loading rifles, and the Government will furnish them 
to every agricultural college that will give bonds and use them as they 
ought. And we want a good man to take charge of that department; 
not a wooden man, and he is a member of this convention to-day. Now, 
sir, what was the result! We organized our companies, the State fur- 
nished us with uniforms and with flags, and all the people were proud 
of the agricultural cadets, and at our last commencement the battalion 
was reviewed by the governor and State officers and they were proud 
of them. Sir, they were able, every one of those twenty-seven who grad- 
uated was able to step out and take command of that battalion and put 
them through all the ordinary evolutions. And those young men to-day 
are more cai)able of acting as officers than military officers generally. 
I was sent, after I had enlisted, and put under a Massachusetts major 
general instead of a colonel, and the first thing he said to me was, '*The 
first thing 1 want to know about a man is what he knows." Said I, " I 
do not know much, but I can learn if I have a good teacher." Well, 
that man did not know enough to get that regiment out of the camp 
into the cars. It was his boast, sir, that he had been a sergeant, lieu- 
tenant, captain, major, lieutenant colonel, colonel, brigadier general, 
and major general, but from the day of his appointment he was major 
general of militia. He' very carefully dodged all drill of the regiment 
after we got on the fighting- ground. ['' No, no."] Well, sir, I believe that 
he was not fit to command "an army to defend w-hat little corn and pota- 
toes we have in Massachusetts, and he was generally detailed for such 
purposes. Mr. Mori, the Japanese minister, when he went up to the 



74 NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION. 

college and saw the cadets drill, exclaimed, " Ah, that will teach the 
I)eople to feed themselves and defend themselves." 

Let us have an efficient corps of officers. I know that our old militia 
system to-day costs us $20(),0(H) a year, when we think it is a very big 
thins;' to pay $130,000 a year to the agriculcurai colleges. We have one 
hundred and thirty students in our college, and if ever we have occa- 
sion to light we will furnish men who can organize an armv and take it 
into the iield and use it better than the militia officers under whom we 
went to the war. 

Now, then, sir, in regard to my feelings on this morion before the house, 
I beg to dissent from the action which I confess I submitted to yester- 
da3\ I felt that it was asking too much. I felt that, with the law stand- 
ing as it does. Congress could not refuse us the gift of an officer. And, 
as I said to Secretary Belknap, "We want an experienced officer." " O,-' 
he says, " we cannot give you your i)ick, we can give you one of the new 
men." I told him 1 didn't make my wngon-wheels of that stuff. Well, 
says he, " We want the good stuff in the Army," , 

Well, there is a fort. Fort Adams, at Newport, and a very safe place 
it is, too ; and there are eight or ten graduates of West Point roosting 
on that artillery there; and I hope the enemy won't attack them. I ask 
the Secretary of War to give us an experienced soldier. "We cannot 
give you an old officer; he is gone out of work if he goes to you." " I will 
see that he has four hours of .hard work every day, and I will develop 
him better than in any other place." Now, sir. Senator Morrill is a good 
leader, he is the father of the original bill ; at least, he v>^as the champion 
of the bill in tlie house. Why, sir. Senator Morrill was at our com- 
mencement, and he was delighted to see the success, and I feel like tak- 
ing my hat off and thanking him, and I think we all owe it to him. 

The President. The question is on the motion of Professor Grey, of 
Kansas, that the report be adopted. 

Mr. Taylor. I move that the resolution be laid ux)on the table. 

Mr. Denison, of Kansas. I infer from the information conveyed by 
President Clark that the proj^ositiou on the part of Senator Morrill is 
that the agricultural colleges shall receive from the Government their 
arms and equipments, a sufficient amount for all that the college needs. 
Am I right'l^ 

Mr. Clark, of IMassachusetts. Yes, sir. 

Mr. Denison. And that these agricultural colleges shall receive, 
through appointment from the Government, two professors. Am I 
right 1 

Mr. Clark. I so understand it. 

Mr. Denison. Then I regret, Mr. President, that the chairman did 
not have this information before the report was made. 

Mr. Gregory, of Illinois. The action of the War Department has 
been to withdraw the i)ay of the retired officers who were acting in the 
military academics, and before that action took place they withdrew all 
the allowances of the officers put on detail service, so that we found 
that, if we were to receive a detail officer to teach luilitary tactics, it 
would cost us just as much as to go and select oin- own man. I want 
to say a word upon this subject to the agriculturists, of whom I am 
one, for I recognize no dilfereuce. I doubt whether many more of them 
. work a bigger larm than I do or in anymore practical way. The au- 
thorities at Chicago, during the late fire there, telegraphed to the Indus- 
trial University to send every man there. We had muskets for only one 
hundred and fifty, and, after doing service there, they received the high 
recommendations of General Sheridan. These agricultural colleges are 



NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION. 75 

ready to feed the country aud to defend it, and the great agricultural 
schools must do both these thiugs. 

The State legislature last year gave us $25,000 to erect a drill-hall, 
sixty by one hundred and twenty feet. And, at this hour, there is a bill 
pending before the legislature of llhuois, introduced by a farmer — a 
general also — a member of the House, that the colleges shall give 
military education. 

Mr. Welch. Does this education injure the college by keeping pupils 
away ? 

Mr. Gregory. Not a bit. Military education has not turned away a 
single student. Now, Mr; President, I move that the resolution pre- 
sented by Senator Morrill be referred to a special committee. • 

The President. The first question is upon the motion of Mr. Grey, of 
Kansas, that the report of the committee be adopted. 

Mr. Burns. I move that this subject be made a special order for 
Monday next, at 11 o'clock. 

Mr. KiNGr. I move to recommit it. 

Mr. Burns. My object was only to make it a special order, so that it 
might become very well known. I do not know whether it includes 
females or not. 

The President. You have finished actiou upon the resolution of Sen- 
ator Morrill. It was referred to the committee appointed to present the 
resolutions to Congress. 

Mr. Mallet, of Virginia. I do not wish to address the convention, 
but to suggest a single point. The condition of things in the diftereut 
States varies considerably. In the State which I have the honor to 
represent here there is at present a thorough and efticient military 
academy, founded on the same principles as at West Point, aud con- 
ducted in a thoroughly efticient way. It would seem, therefore, very 
undesirable that it should be rendered compulsory in the agricultural 
colleges to establish the necessity of compelling the colleges to give 
military education. It is compulsory at present, and I am disposed to 
favor the alternative suggestion that, if the suggestion for increased 
means for military education be not found tenabk^, the law as it at pres- 
ent stands, requiring the educational colleges to give instruction also in 
military tactics, be repealed. It seems to me agriculture is one entire 
and distinct branch. Military education, of course, has its importance, 
and that is very great. They are two of the most distinct branches. 
In human life you may bring together two distinct branches as you 
may — any two distinct branches under one head — but they have no 
connection. 

Mr. Snodgrass. I would like to offer a resolution which really 
expresses that which has been expressed, including the speech made by 
the last gentleman, the sentiments of which 1 concur in. It is that this 
convention ask Congress to repeal the law^ requiring agricultural colleges 
to teach military tactics. 

Mr. Lines. I believe that the resolution introduced by Senator Morrill 
covers the whole ground, and therefore, for the purpose of concluding 
the matter, 1 move that the report be laid upon the table. 

The President. Senator Morrill's resolution has been passed upon 
by the convention. 

Mr. King. We passed upon this whole matter prior to the report of 
the committee in the shape of asking the War Department to give a 
teacher to each of the colleges. 

The report of the military committee was laid upon the table — 39 to 
24. 



16 NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION. 

Mr. Edmunds. Mr. President, we have been here now for two days, 
and have ])assed several resokitious asking Congress to make an appro- 
priatiou for seeds, another for the beneiit of '-this Department and 
meteoroh)gical observations, and now we want certain reports to be 
distributed among the people, by which we may know from time to time 
whether to hold our (jrops or to put them ui)on the market. I have some 
resolutions here which i wish to introduce : 

Resolved, That; in tlio ju(lji;ment. of tliia convention, the pni'cliase and distribution 
of seeds, plants, roots, «Src., that are not new, ancl are not known or supposed to Lave 
a distinctive and especial economic value warranting tlieir introduction, should be dis- 
continued by the Department of Agriculture. 

Resolved, That Congress be respectfully requested to make provision for the prepara- 
tion and gathering of statistics, to bo published iu the monthly reports of the Commis- 
sioner of Agricviltnre, which will correctly show the true condition and prospects of 
crops in the several counties of the Uuited States. 

Resolved, That Congress be urgently requested so to increase the salary of the Com- 
missioner of Agriculture as to elevate the Department to its prox>er position in the 
General Government. 

Now, it seems to me that this strikes the whole question. It elevates 
this Department to its proper position, and makes out what they are to 
do. I do not know but that the legislation already had is sulhcient for 
the second resolution, but I do knoAV that the reports that we get do 
not show to us the true condition of the crops throughout the country. 
And if the legislation already provided is not sufQcient to enable the 
Commissioner to gather the information of the condition of the crops 
and send it broadcast over the laud, so that the man who has his 
crops- may be prepared for himself to judge whether he should send 
them into the market or trust to the middle-men, then we want addi- 
tional legislation. I ask that these resolutions be considered separately. 

The convention refused to consider them separately— 22 to IG. 

Mr. Williams. 1 move that the resolutions be laid upon the table. 

Carried— 43 to 40. 

Mr. BECKAViTn, of Michigan. I move the folloSving resolutions: 

Resolved, That the Department (tf Agriculture may be an efficient instrument for the 
dissemination of valuable seeds and plants grown in one country or section of country 
to another, where they are most grown, or where a change of seed is required. 

Resolved, .That in the selection and distribution of seeds and plants the utmost care 
should bo exercised, so that only the best of best varieties should be sent into those 
sections of the country, for experiment which ai'e best adapted for their successful 
growth. 

Resolved, That the Department be requested to procure oats, barley, wheat, and rye 
from Nova Scotia and the provinces of Quebec and Toronto, for distribution in this 
country where these crops are cultivated. 

Resolved, That the Department be requested to procure tobacco-seed from the valley 
of the Connecticut for distribution in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraskai, 
and such other States as have begun the cultivation of that crop. 

Resolved, That it be requested to distribute in New England, and such other places 
as it may seem desirable, samples of the Treadwell and Dihl winter wheats grown in 
Michigan, and of the best spring wheats grown in Nebraska. 

Mr. Burns. I move that the resolutions be laid upon the table. 

Carried. 

The President. The chair would announce the following: 

COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL SOCIETY. 

Messrs. Beckwith, Michigan; Eobison, Ohio ; Clark, Vermont; King, 
New York* General Hampton, South Carolina; General Halstead, 
New Jersey. 

Governor Patton. I desire respectfully to submit to the convention 
whether or not it would not be better to iiave a recess now of one hour, 



NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION. 77 

and let the committee report and then have a session of three hours 
thereafter. We could have a session of three hours tliis afternoon. 
We could adjourn before the cars leave the city in every direction, for 
I desire the convention to separate in a body. We can do the business 
before us in three hours. 

Mr. Allen, of Connecticut. It becomes imperatively necessary for us 
to fix the time of final adjournment now, and I therefore move that, 
when this convention adjourn, it adjourns at 5 o'clock to-day. 

Mr. Burns. I move to insert " 3 o'clock on Monday." 

Lost. 

The President. The question is to adjonrn at 5 o'clock to-day. 

Carried. 

Mr. Clark. I desire to add to the committee on the formation of a 
national society General Wade Hampton, of South Carolina. 

Carried. [Inserted in the list.] 

Mr. GiLMAN, of New Hampshire. I desire to make a motion, that, if 
Congress see fit to publish the proceedings of this convention, ten 
copies be sent to each member of the convention for distribution in the 
several States to which they belong. 

Mr. Wheeler. 1 move to amend by inserting one hundred instead 
of ten. 

Carried. 

The resolution as amended was adopted. 

Mr. Keid. As we have agreed, sir, to adjourn this convention at 5 
o'clock, I move an adjournment until 3 o'clock. 

Lost. 

The President. Mr. Snodgrass offers the following resolution. [In- 
serted above.] 

Mr. Clark, of Massachusetts. I move to add : "That the thanks of 
this convention be tendered to Senator Morrill for his aid to agriculture 
and agricultural education." 

Carried. 

Mr. King. I move to add the name of Senator Freliughuysen also. 

Carried. 

The resolution as amended was adopted. 

Mr. Claghorn. I move to take a recess for half an hour. 

Carried. 

recess. 

The convention then took a recess for half an hour 

RE-ASSEMBLING. 

The President. The convention will come to' order. The chair is 
desirous of securing av hat he has endeavored to secnre in various stages 
of the convention, and it will not take many minutes to do it, and that 
is the post-office address of the various delegates. 

[The president then called the list of delegates, and inserted the post- 
ofiice atldresses as far as ijossible.] 

General Halstead. I offer the following resolution with great 

pleasure : 

Besolved, That Congress be petitioned by this convention to increase the salary of 
the Commissioner of Agriculture to $6,000 per annum. 

Carried — 35 to 5. 

Mr. Wheeler. I desire now to take from the table the resolution 



78 NATIONAL AGRICULTUKAL CONVENTION. 

[Mr. Beckwitli's, which is iuserted before in the proceedings] which 
was laid on the table, in relation to the distribution of seeds. 

Curried. 

Tlie President. It is with relation to the distribution of seeds, and 
calling upon the Commissioner to select ])roper i)laces and to distribute 
the seeds. 

Mr. Beckwith. It is the only resolutiyu that has been presented 
here that is stri(;t]y agricultural, is the reason why it has been voted 
down. [Laughter.] The tobacco I put in at the special request of some 
half a dozen of the best agricultnrists that attend this convention, and 
since it has been tabled it has been called up to see whether it would 
pass. 

Mr. Bowman. I have just had a conference with the Commissioner, 
and he tells me that that is the great want of the people, and it is about 
the only appropriation he asks for. 

Mr. Maynakd. I wish to give a few words of testimony, if I under- 
stand the resolution correctly. 1 understand that it relates to the dis- 
semination of seeds through the Department of Agriculture. I have 
been connected with the Mouse of Keinesentatives of the United States 
for many years, and have had the distribution of seeds through the 
Depaitment oflicially to sonse extent, and 1 hnd every year that the 
call for them has not only increased in numbers, but increased, if 1 may 
use the expression, in intelligenc^e. Men desire them to introduce new 
crops into the country; and those calls do not c<mie from those "in 
cloth," bat from men who handle the plow, the tillers of the soil, and I 
have thought it p.joper on every suitable occasion to recommend these 
appropriations. 

The President. The resolution simply urges an additional distribu- 
tion of the seeds. 

The resolution was adopted. 

THANKS 

Mr. Wheeler. I move the following resolutions: 

Eesolved, That -vYe recognize the wisdom of the honorable Commissiouer of Agricul- 
tiue in callino; this the tirst national eonventioii ever liekl in thin country. 

L'enolved, That onr thanks he teuih-rtd to Dr. Loring-, of Massachusetts, for his able 
"and dignified performance of the dutic s of president of this convention ; also, to R. F. 
Johnston, es(]., of Michijjan, secretary of the convention, and his assistants; also to 
the newspaper press of Washington 'City, (specially The Patriot, whose semi-oflicial 
reports have given to the country the only early and reliable details of the proceed- 
ings of the convention. 

Mr. Burns. I desire to offer the following resolutions : 

iitsoZretZ, That the thanks of this convention are tendered the president and secre- 
taries for the kind and attentive manner in which they have performed the duties of 
their respective positions. 

newlrcd fiirthei-, That they continue the ofiQcers of this the National Agricultural 
Association until a re-election of officers at the next annual convention. 

The President. The chair would state that he intends to resign his 
position alter the dissolving of this convention. 

Mr. KoBisoN. Mr. President,! think that lesolution is inconsistent, 
irrational, if not to say' weak. 

The resolution was lost. 

Mr. Eyerts, of Montana. I offer the following : 

Befohrd, That the thanks oi' this convention are justly due to the honorable Com- 
missioner of Agriculture tor his earnest ellbrts in promoting the objects for which we 
have met; that we sympathize with him in the fact that there is no appropriatioH 
■which he can use to carry out the objects of this couveution; that our thanks are due 



NATIONAL AGRICULTUKAL CONVENTION. 79 

and are hereby tendered to him for his courtesy and kindness to the members of this 
convention. 

Mr. Burns. 1 move to lay the resolution on the table. 

Lost. 

The resolution was then adopted. 

Mr. McKnight, of Utah. J wish to offer a resolution. 

Ih-solvcd, That the title of the act of July 2, 1H62, evinces the intention of Congress 
to have included the Territories within its provisions, but the text of the act does not 
eniltiace them ; that, therefore, it is the desire of this convention that an act of Con- 
gress be passed declaratory of its intention that the Territories of the Union, as they 
an; or may be organized, be embraced in the provisions of the said act. 

The President. Is that the college act? 

Mr, McKnight. Yes, sir. 

Mr. Snodgrass. We have a Territory in the District of Columbia,* 
aiJil so we never can become a State. That is the first fact, and we are 
now hojiing to have in this District a college of the same kind, towards 
which we have taken some steps. I think our status is fixed, but there 
is no harm in anticipating. 

Mr. Wheeler. To satisfy their case they may have another resolu- 
tion. In tiie case of the territorial officers the carpet-baggers get all 
the money. I have been ten years under those fellows. I therefore 
move to lay the resolution on the table. 

Lost— 12 to 30. 

Mr. Channing, of Ehode Island. I desire to offer a resolution. 

licsolred, That this convention recognizes the importance of the microscopical investi- 
gation into the fungoid diseases of plants, wliich has been inaugurated by the Depart- 
ment of Agriculture, and trusts that this important branch of microscopical research 
will hereafter receive the attention and encouragement which it deserves. 

11 there were time I should say a few words on the matter. There 
have been some very important results, as 1 regard them, as obtained 
here in this past year. 

Adopted unanimously. 

Mr. Cornell. Knowing the anxiety that the colleges feel on the sub- 
ject of their present situation in regard to military instruction, 1 think 
it would be wise to strengthen the hands of the sub-committee of six 
that we have appointed, and I therefore move that we take from the 
table the report of the committee on that subject and refer it to a com- 
mittee of six. ^ 

Carried. 

Mr. McKnight. I beg leave to offer this resolution : 

Reaolved, That as a courtesy, and in accordance with his request, Hon. Jlr. Cornell 
be furnished an official copy of the proceedings of this convention. 

'Carried. 
Mr. Little, of Mississippi. I have a resolution that I desire to offer: 

llt'iiolvid, That this convention petition the Congress of the United States to repeal 
60 much of the act of Congress of 1862 in regard to agricultural colleges as requires 
them to give instruction in military tactics. 

M r. TwoMBLY. I move that that be referred to the committee of six 
on ai)})ropriations. 

Carried. 

]Mr. Swallow. There are two members from the Territories of Utah 
and Montana, Messrs. McKnight and Everts, and I desire that they be 
added to the committee on the preservation of timber. 

Carried. 

patents,. 

General Halstead. I offer the following resolution for the want of 



80 NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION. 

having- a collection of the different mechanical implements. Tliere has 
been no collection of them so that we can see them and understand their 
workings : 

Besolved, That tlio committee appointed to confer with the Agricultural and Appro- 
priation Committees of Congress be requested to recommend to Congress that the 
establishment of a museum of working models of all agricultural^ implements and 
machinery that have been or shall be patented would be for tlie benefit and instruction 
of all agriculturists visiting the Agricultural Department, said museum to be under 
the control of the Commissioner of Agriculture and be erected on the grounds of that 
institution. 

I would have it that the patent-law require that the inventors should 
send a working model, and you will find it will be of very great service 
to the farmers of the land. 
• Mr. Maynard. How large a building would be necessary ? [Laughter.] 

General Halstead. Well, sir, we would make a shed one story high. 

Mr. King, of the District of Columbia. 1 would also ask the gentleman 
how would he draw a distinction between agricultural and the mechan- 
ical sciences. 

Mr. Edmunds. The imy^lemeuts exhibited at the annual Illinois State 
fair would cover more than half of these grounds, and to take the im- 
plements of -this whole nation, you would have to shed the whole ground 
and make it three or four deep. 

Mr. Snodgkass. This will require the poor man to furnish a working 
model, and I wish to make it a request, not. obligatory. 

Mr. Williams. I move that thal^ be laid upon the table. 

Carried. 

THE CONVENTION. 

Governor Patton. I suppose the business of the convention is about 
completed. 1 have a resolution of thanks to the president of the con- 
vention for the manner in which he has discharged his duties, but 
another gentleman has offered it, which answers the purpose. " Now, the 
moment has come when we are to separate. I think it will be proper 
for the convention to designate a time to meet, that when we go home 
we can say that this convention was a success, and that, as evidence of 
that success, in the opinion of every delegate, the convention determined 
to re-assemble regularly every year, as contemplated by the report made 
by the gentleman ftiom Georgia. Now, Mr. President, if we can deter- 
mine upon a day to meet again, it would be exceedingly agreeable to all. 

I have attended in the course of my life many commercial conven- 
tions, political conventions, and many State conventions. I was in the 
senate for a great many years in Alabama, and I can say with truth 
I have never l"egistered my name in a convention that ended with moKe 
satisfHction to myself than the agricultural convention which is now 
about to adjourn. ^ [Applause.] I have never participated, either directly 
or indirectly, in the discussions of a deliberate body where .there has 
been more harmony and good feeling than there has been in this con- 
vention, due, in a great measure, to the president, who has so faithfully 
and patiently discharged his duty. [Applause.] I believe, Mr. Presi- 
dent, that it IS the beginning of good thingsj that we are now beginning 
a system, or, rather, the meetings of agricultural conventions, that are 
going to result, in good. Sir, when I look over this convention I find 
many, like myself, with grey hairs, the evidence of having spent a life- 
time, yet I feel young, although 1 am older than many gentlemen around 
and about me, [la.viug his liand on the head of Mr. Allen of New York, 
who said, "Yes, that is so" — laughter] for even now we have to work 
yet and do the work of a man. 



NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION. 8X 

When you go to Alabama, and when you ,2^0 to the great State of the 
Union, New York, let us all go home and tell the people in deliberative 
assemblies, in county meetings, tell them that we must work up. The 
great work of life is before us, and one of the great interests is agricul- 
ture. And, without making remarks that I might make at the last hour 
and moment of the session, 1 say to this assembly of intelligent, worthy 
men — equal to Congress or any other body — I say to them, my friends 
and my fellow-countrymen, let us live together as brothers, let us work 
together as brothers, and when we, in the course of human events, shall 
have finished our work, let us be prepared to enter into that rest which 
is prepared for the faithful of God. [Amen.] 

THE NEXT CONVENTION. 

Mr. Allen, of Maine. I make a motion that the next convention of 
delegates be held in this city on the second' Wednesday of Februarv, 
1873. 

Mr. TwoMBLY. I would prefer the second Wednesday of January, as 
it would be too near the 4th of March. *' 

Mr. lloBisoN. 1 wish him to modify it. Our institution is not a State 
institution, chartered by the State, and therefore we would not be enti- 
tled to admission. 

The President. All that has been provided for by a resolution. 

Mr, RoBisoN. Let it be read. [The resolution was read as printed 
above.] " Other agricultural associations;" yes, that takes us in. Our 
institution is the Northern Ohio. It embraces, perhaps, some twenty 
counties, and, as far as its proportion and execution are concerned, we 
challenge any of the State institutions anywhere. [" It is a great thing." 
Laughter.] Our receipts last year were $42,000 ; beat that if you can. 

Mr. Dejn'ison. Some of us come a long distance. I do not think it 
will be essential to the success of the convention that Congress should 
be in session. I do not know but that will discommode and disconcert 
some who would like to be here, and who would like to be members of 
the con^'ention. I think the lioth of February would be better, and, if 
they choose, they can stay to the inauguration of the President after 
they have tinished their business. 

Tiie President. Will you allow the suggestion, has this present day 
been inconvenient to anybody t Does the second Wednesday interfere? 

Mr. Cornell. That interferes \tith the New York State Agricultural 
Society. 

Mr. Denison. Make it on Thursday instead of Wednesday. [" No, 
that is too late in the week."] 

Mr. Burns, of Alabama. We are planting corn down in my section 
now, and it is the time we planters want to be at home, and ought to be 
there. " 

Mr. Wheeler. I move to make it the third Wednesday of February. 

Carried. 

Mr. Safford, of Vermont. I move to make it 1874 instead of 1873. 

Lost. 

The resolution, as amended, was adopted. 

Mr. Lines. The call that was proposed is for the representatives 
from the itgricultural colleges and societies and horticultural societies, 
and I think, Mr. President, that unless some way can be proviited that 
agriculture and horticulture can receive more attention it will attract 
very few members. When they come to see the proceedings of this 
convention and discover but a single resolution pertaining to practical 
S. Mis. 1G4 G 



82 NATIONAL AGKICULTUEAL CONVENTION. 

iigricultnre, I tliink they will naturally raise the question, "What busi- 
ness have Ave here?"' 

Now there has been one resolution, which I submitted myself, that 
some expression should be made on the part of the convention, and that 
was calling- the attention of farmers to the planting of trees, and that 
has been buried. 

^he President. The chair would state that that resolution was re- 
ferred to one of the best committees tbat I could make, and from whom 
I expect a careful and elaborate report. 

Mr. Lines. Not the resolution of mine; mine was a resolution of advice 
to farmers. Mine was calling the especial attention of individual farmers, 
not for shade, but by the hundreds of acres. Yet it has been one of the 
most gratifying conventions I have ever attended in my life, and I have 
been to a good many, and particularly so because there are persons here 
from every part of the country. And now we look in one another's 
faces and see ourselves reflected. I wish to have it continued, but I 
wish to have it more useful, not to be confined to colleges particularly, 
although I am particularly interested in colleges, and I want them to be 
splendid. 

Mr. Swallow. I wish to make one suggestion, Mr. President; the 
resolutions we have passed call upon three societies where it does one 
college. You have the privilege of sending up six where we have but 
two ; and if you cannot take care of the interests I think you ought to 
be beaten. 

Mr. Allen, of New Y'ork. You have neglected as meritorious gentle- 
men as an^;, gentlemen connected with this department. I allude to the 
statistician, Mr. Dodge, and the entomologist, Mr. Glover. They are 
working here for a mere pittance, and I wish to give them Mhat they 
deserve, including Mr, Saunders, the superintendent of the gardens. I 
move, therefore, that the compensation of these three gentlemen, Messrs. 
Saunders, Glover, and Dodge, be increased in proportion to the increase 
recommended by the convention in regard to the salary of the Commis- 
sioner; that is, "from $2,000 per annum to |4,000. 

The resolution was seconded. 

Mr. J. H. King, of District of Columbia. I will give the name of Pro- 
fessor Taylor, the microscopist, also. 

The resolution was adopted. 

CLOSINa ADDRESS OF DR. LORING. 

The President. I feel under personal obligations to the gentlemen of 
the convention for the courtesy and kindness which they have manifested 
toward me through all its deliberations. 

The convention has been to me one of extreme interest, manifesting, 
as it has, the desire to elevate both the scientific and the i)ractical inter- 
ests of the country. In the opening speech which I had the honor to make 
to the convention, I took especial i)ains to place practical agriculture in 
the front rank, as the real foundation of all scientific investigation. 
[Good,] For myself, the interest I have in the occupation is that of a 
practical farmer and observer. From that rank I have never proposed 
to raise myself. And working as I have, year after year, in Massachu- 
setts, with such men as Agassiz, who never accepts a scientific principle 
until the facts ujjou which he bases it are i)rovided by the ])ractical 
farmers themselves, and who represents in that respect the highest and 
wisest sense of what all true science is — working, as 1 have done, in that 
capacity, I have learned to value more and more the facts that have 



NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION. 83 

been brouglit in detail from the farms themselves, and have, therefore, 
been disposed to place practical agriculture at the foundation of all ad- 
vancemeut in fanning. And I therefore joiu bauds with the advocates 
of agricultural colleges, while I admire the mauuer in which the prac- 
tical farmers here have presented their claims on this occasion. 

Now, geutlemen, I think in the call extended to us, a specific object 
was laid dowu, and I do not thiuk this convention trav^eled out of its 
record, or waudered one step from its object when it undertook to deal 
with education and to appeal to Congress to stan<l by it in that appeal. 
[Applause,] 

As the presiding officer of this convention, I desire to say, in behalf 
of those educational gentlemen to whom I have listeued with so much 
pleasure, that I do not accept the compliment paid to them when they 
were told that the dignified and proper debate upon such a question as 
practical education constituted the " folly'' of this convention. [Ap- 
plause.] And I say this with the most profound respect, too, for all 
those who joined us and for all who have the agricultural interests of 
this country in tlieir hands. 1 say it because I think it is just to those 
who came here to accomplish one of the most important objects of the 
convention. And I am sure it ought not to go upon record'that hostil- 
ity to this object was the opinion of any man holding a seat in this con- 
vention. [Applause.] I am sure there is no one in this room who will 
not agree with me in that respect. [Good.] 

I have never before taken part in any assembly in which the different 
interests of the country were better reiK-esented from nearly every State 
in the Union, in which I thought all gentlemen had a right to go away 
with so much respect for each other's opinions and for each other's pur- 
suits as this. If the practical farmers of this country, sitting in this 
convention, have not learned to respect the ardor of the scientific gen- 
tlemen, and if, on the other hand, the scientific gentlemen have not 
learned to respect the enthusiasm and practical common sense of the 
farmers, I am sure it is impossible for me to tell what convention could 
bring about such a fortunate result. 

I am confident you must all depart feeling under i^ersonal obligations 
to the Commissioner of Agriculture, who was kind enough to call you 
here, and for the accommodations provided for us. 

I am sure you must all go away from here with stronger motives, and 
that you can assure yourselves that, from this moment, agriculture has 
received a new impetus in this country [ai)plause] and an interest that 
will not only be a profit to' the farmer himself, but will increase the 
respect for him in the community. 

1 have a suggestion to make with all deference. I think it might be 
well for a coiumittee of three or five to be appointed to confer with the 
Commissioner of Agriculture in regard to calling the next convention 
in the city of Washington. For when you remember that you have been 
called here by his courtesy alone, that you are not a permanently 
organized body, and that this organization, if continued at all, must be 
continued by the aid of the Commissioner, it does seem to me courteous 
and proper that such a committee should be ai)pointed. 

I again extend my thanks to you for the kindness and consideration 
which you have shown me during the sessions of this convention, aud 
beg you to (jarry with you my wannest wishes for your welfare and pros- 
perity and the continued power and success of the interest which you 
represent. [Api)lause.] 

Mr. TwoMBLY. The motion was made yesterday that a committee of 
five be appointed, and the Commissioner of Agiiculture was the chair- 



84 NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION. 

man. It was passed, however, requesting the Commissioner of Agricul- 
ture to make the call. I move that a committee of five be appointed. 

Mr. Childs. I would suggest that the president of this convention be 
the chairman of the committee. 

The resolution, as amended, was adopted. 

The President. The chair would appoint on the committee Messrs. 
Twombly, Wisconsin; Governor Smyth, i!^ew Hami^shire; Clark, Massa- 
chusetts ; Cornell, New York. 

ADJOURNMENT. 

Mr. Wheeler. I move that the convention do now adjourn. 
Agreed to. 

And (at 5 o'clock p. m.) the convention adjourned to meet the third 
Wednesday of February, 1873. 









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